Away From Me

Away From Me Shattered by the loss of his wife, Callum Reed is a man surrounded by rules designed to protect him. He has found the perfect submissive in Gaby Sullivan, until she breaks his cardinal rule. After three years of perfect obedience, Gaby declares she wants love. Love isn’t in their contract, so Cal lets her go. But Gaby has a secret reason for leaving. When Cal discovers the truth, nothing will stop him from following her. On a secluded island paradise, Callum will do anything to prove he’s the perfect Master for his defiant, loving sub. Genre: BDSM, Contemporary Length: 33,679 words

 

AWAY FROM ME

Sophie Oak

EROTIC ROMANCE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

AWAY FROM ME Copyright © 2010 by Sophie Oak E-book ISBN: 1-61034-069-8 First E-book Publication: November 2010 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2010 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Away From Me by Sophie Oak from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Sophie Oak’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Oak’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

 

DEDICATION For the survivors For those still fighting For those who lost – for my father who I still miss every single day

 

AWAY FROM ME SOPHIE OAK Copyright © 2010

Prologue “Do you love me?” Callum Reed stared down at the woman who’d just screamed her climax in his arms, and everything inside him tensed. She was bringing this up now? “Go to sleep, Gabrielle,” he ordered in his deepest voice. He pulled her into his arms. In the morning, things would be back to normal. He’d go to work, and Gaby would do…whatever it was she did all day. She was an obedient girl. It was the reason he’d chosen her as his submissive. She nestled down in his arms, but her breathing didn’t calm. Cal tried soothing her. He smoothed her hair down and kissed her ear. He loved how soft she felt against him. She sat up suddenly. Her gray-green eyes were so serious, he wished he’d turned the light off. “Do you love me, Cal?” He threw an arm over his eyes and sighed. “What do you want, Gaby?” “I want the truth. I’ve lived with you for three years now.” Gaby’s voice was unsteady, lilting up and down, an unmistakable clue to her emotional state. Cal hoped she didn’t cry. She’d been crying a lot lately. He didn’t like it. “Are you ever going to ask me to marry you?”

 

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He sat up and started to look for his pants. Of all the things she could say, this was the one most likely to get him moving. “No, Gaby. I was very clear about that. I have no intentions of ever marrying again.” “Because you loved your wife and you won’t ever love another woman?” There was a hard knot in his chest. He wasn’t sure if that knot was about his wife, Cassie, or the fact that he was about to have a prolonged fight with Gaby. Gaby was a sweet girl, and he enjoyed her, but he would never allow himself to love anyone again. He’d had his chance with a woman, and she died. The thought of marrying Gabrielle, of being that close…he just couldn’t go through that again. Still, he wanted to keep Gaby, but only at a distance. “I was up front and honest with you, Gabrielle. I never told you this was going past where it is now. You have a collar. It’s the only piece of jewelry I ever intend to buy you.” “Do you ever want to have children with me?” He slapped at the nightstand, unable to stem the tide of emotion the question brought out in him. “I don’t want children, Gabrielle. I made that plain. We signed a contract. All of this was laid out. I provide everything for you. I provide you with a home, a car, your clothes…” “And I act as your wife,” she returned with a little fire of her own. She sat up in bed. The comforter they shared was discarded. Her gorgeous breasts were on full display. “I keep the house and host your parties. I keep your books.” “So now you want a ring.” He got out of bed and started to pace. He should have seen this coming. He should have known she wouldn’t be happy forever. “Well, sweetheart, next time, don’t sell yourself so cheaply. There’s an old saying here in Texas, pet…” “Don’t,” she said quietly. “Don’t compare me to a cow. I just wanted to know, okay?”

 

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There was a dullness to her eyes that pulled at him. He relented a bit, dropping to one knee. He let his hands drift to her legs. The contact comforted him. She was still here. He could keep her. “Gaby, baby, just because I don’t want to get married again doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.” A little spark animated her face. “You do?” “Of course.” He had to deal with her gently. He was surprised at how anxious this conversation made him. He would have told anyone who asked that if his sub gave him trouble, he would simply dismiss her. Gaby had been with him for a long time. He hated the thought of training someone else. Suddenly, he realized that he couldn’t imagine his life without her. He sat back on his heels, stunned and a little frightened at the thought. Gaby was in every part of his life. It would be brutal to pull her out of it. He shook his head. “I haven’t spent three years with you on a lark. We work well together. The sex is good. I don’t see why we can’t continue for the foreseeable future.” “But you don’t love me,” she said quietly. This time, Cal could tell it wasn’t a question. “You’re not ever going to fall in love with me. If three years hasn’t done it, it’s not going to happen.” Cal put his hands on her shoulders. He forced her to look into his eyes. A savage little knot formed in his stomach. “I never promised to be anything more than your Master.” The tears in her eyes almost did him in, but he forced himself to hold her apart. He didn’t like this weakness where she was concerned. She nodded. “You were honest, Callum. I was just fooling myself. Could you leave me alone for a moment? I’d like to get dressed.” “Gaby, it’s one in the morning.” He stared at the gold choker around her throat that marked her as his submissive. He didn’t use the word slave, though it practically described Gaby. She never argued

 

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with him, never fought. She did exactly what he told her to do. “You’re going to bed. In the morning, we’ll get back to normal.” For the first time in their three years together, Gabrielle shook her head, indicating her negative response. It threw Cal for a loop. He watched with shock as her hands went behind her neck. She unclasped the necklace she’d worn without fail for years. Eyes downcast, she handed it back to him. “I’m sure you’ll need it for the next one.” She forced the necklace into his hand, her eyes lingering on it briefly before she looked up at him. Her politeness held a brittle edge. “My suitcase is already packed. If you’ll give me a moment to get dressed, I’ll leave.” He felt his face harden, jaw tightening as he realized what was really happening. She thought she could pull a little power play on him? He wouldn’t be manipulated. “Just how do you intend to leave, Gaby? My name is on that car of yours. All of your credit cards are in my name as well. And your bank account.” She flushed, a sure sign that he’d hurt her. Well, she’d hurt him. Her eyes came up. She was so gorgeous when she was angry. Her green eyes were darker, and her sable hair flowed across her shoulders. Everything about Gabrielle was soft and feminine. Even in her rage, she brought out his protective instincts. He fought to ignore them. “I believe it was in our contract, Callum. If I stayed for at least two years, I’d get to keep the car, and you owe me fifty thousand dollars. Maybe I earned it on my back, but I earned it.” “Oh, but you weren’t just on your back, were you, sweetheart?” Cal could hear the ugly edge to his voice. “You were on your front, your knees, tied up, tied down, however I liked it.” “Yes, it was however you liked it, Cal. I did everything you asked me to do.” He hated the fact that she wouldn’t fight with him. It made him crazy. It made him a little bit cruel. “I remember that you told me you didn’t need the money in the contract.”

 

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“I was wrong.” He shook his head. “You can try to enforce that contract, darlin’. I can keep you tied up in court for a really long time. You’ll be an old woman before you see a dime of that money.” Her beautiful face lost every bit of its color. The blood drained from her complexion so quickly Cal worried she might pass out. “You won’t give me the money? I thought you would honor the contract. I didn’t think you would turn me out with nothing.” “I’m not turning you out, Gaby,” he pointed out. “You’re leaving because your plans to manipulate me didn’t work. I’m not giving you a dime, Gaby. So you can forget that plan, get back into bed, and in the morning, we’ll pretend this never happened. I’m willing to be magnanimous.” He watched as her brain seemed to be seeking a way out. There wasn’t one. He was right. She wouldn’t try to enforce the little contract they had signed at the beginning of the relationship. It was a BDSM contract with all sorts of boundaries. She would never take it to another lawyer. He was the best lawyer in Fort Worth. He knew exactly how to get out of his contract with Gabrielle. “I’ll find a way. I can get a job or something.” Cal thought she said it more to herself than to him. “I need to get dressed, Cal. I’ll call Heather. She can come and get me. Feel free to look through the suitcase. I’m just taking the things I came here with. You can donate the clothes and stuff to charity or find another plump girl to take my place.” “Gabrielle!” He used his Dom voice on her, the one that told her she had some punishment coming. She rolled her eyes. “You can’t spank me anymore, Cal. I took off my collar.” She sighed and got up, pulling the sheet with her. She walked to the bathroom, obviously tired of waiting for him to give her the privacy she requested. “I can think whatever I want, do whatever I like. I’m not your responsibility anymore.”

 

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That statement hit him squarely in the gut. She’d been his responsibility for years. How could she just take off the collar he’d placed on her? He remembered that night like it was yesterday. They’d been private about it. Some of their friends had ceremonies, but it seemed too close to marriage for Cal to feel comfortable. So he’d taken her to Austin, wined and dined her, and gently put the collar on when they got back to their suite. He’d made love to her for hours that night. She was walking out on him. How could this be happening? He grabbed her arm and hauled her around to face him. “Why the hell did you stay with me for three years, Gabrielle? Because you thought I would marry you?” She touched his face with her free hand, her fingers slipping slowly over his cheeks and down his jaw. It was a gentle caress, long and steady, as though she were trying to memorize the feeling. “I stayed with you because I love you, Cal.” “But you don’t love me anymore?” She shook her head. “I love you. I’ll always love you. It just isn’t enough. I want to be loved, too. I want someone to love me the way you loved Cassie. Don’t I deserve that?” He dropped her arm, unable to look at her a moment longer. The door behind him closed, and he sank to the bed, head in his hands. He couldn’t, wouldn’t love Gaby. He would never allow another woman inside his heart like that. It hurt too much. He could still see Cassie’s body lying on a cold slab in the morgue. She’d been thirty-two years old. He couldn’t love another woman. His heart hurt, but suddenly, he realized Gaby was right. She did deserve better. Like a robot, he got up and found his checkbook. He wrote out the check, adding another ten grand to the total. He found the title to the little BMW and signed it over to her. He would call Heather and have everything he’d bought Gabrielle shipped to her new address. He wouldn’t take another sub. He couldn’t imagine wanting anyone else.

 

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Gabrielle looked older when she emerged from the bathroom. She wore faded jeans and a black shirt. He hated when she wore black. She thought it was slimming, but she didn’t need to be slimmed. She had an hourglass figure. He loved her curves. Her breasts were large and real. They matched her luscious hips and that ass he couldn’t get enough of. She was perfect. Her head was high as she reached for the bag she’d hidden away in the closet. “Goodbye, Callum,” she said quietly. “I hope you find someone you can love someday.” He pressed the paperwork in her hand. Her eyes flared briefly, but she thanked him, as though she were accepting a small courtesy, not taking the outcome of years of their relationship. He forced himself to be as cold as ice. If he didn’t, he’d be on his knees begging her not to leave. “Goodbye, Gabrielle.” She walked into the night. He was alone again.

 

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Chapter One Ten months later He stared at her. He stood in the elegant living room of Greg and Heather Hall’s large house in North Dallas and watched the woman holding court by the pool. The French doors that led from the living room out to the backyard were open, and he couldn’t mistake that laugh. The house was full, and the party had spilled out into the warm night. She was out there. He couldn’t believe the change. Gabrielle was the life of the party. Every man in the place was looking at his former submissive. He didn’t blame them. You couldn’t miss those tits. They were rounder and higher than they had been almost a year before. His blood pressure rose steadily as he wondered how much of the money he’d given her had gone towards her boob job. And she’d cut her long, luxurious hair. It was ridiculously short now. He’d insisted she wear it long, down to her waist. He had loved the way it flowed down her back. “Cal,” a soft voice said, “I wasn’t expecting you.” He turned to Heather Hall. She was a tall, willowy blonde. Her model perfect looks were moving past worried and into full-on panic. He managed to give her a little smile. “Have I ever missed Greg’s birthday?” “You were supposed to be in Atlanta.” There was no small amount of accusation in her tone. He shrugged and turned his attention back to Gabrielle. She laughed at something a big dark-haired man said. She leaned in

 

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toward him, and her hand came out to touch his shoulder. Cal had the sudden urge to beat the shit out of the stranger. “I got the deal closed early. All of Greg’s paperwork is done. He’s thrilled with the terms I managed to negotiate.” Greg Hall was one of the country’s up-and-coming hotel magnates. His line of boutique and specialty hotels had made him a fortune and brought Cal an enormous amount of business. “More than thrilled.” Greg walked up behind his wife. He looked Heather straight in the eyes. “Is there a reason you’re being ridiculously rude to Callum, dear?” Cal nearly smiled at the deep tone his best friend’s voice suddenly took on. It sent Heather’s eyes submissively down. Her mouth became a flat line. The Dom in Cal knew that was one pissed off sub. She kept her composure, though. She apologized and went to check on the caterer. “I’ll add that to her list of punishments,” Greg said with a little smile. “She can rack up the punishment time when she gets going. Our marriage wouldn’t work if she wasn’t a tiny bit of a masochist.” “What’s Gaby doing here?” Cal couldn’t do the small talk thing right now. It had been almost a year, and he hadn’t heard a word from her or about her. He found it hard to believe that it was a coincidence she showed up to a party he shouldn’t have been able to attend. “It’s my birthday party.” Greg took a swig of his imported beer. “I think Heather invited everyone we know. She is Heather’s best friend, and she happened to be in town. Are you two going to have a problem?” Callum frowned. He didn’t like the way his oldest friend looked at him. He thought about the last time he’d called Greg about anything besides business. It had been before he and Gaby had broken up. Had it really been ten months since he’d just hung out with his friend? He had allowed this thing with Gabrielle to affect him far too much. He gave Greg a friendly smile. “Not at all. I was just surprised to see her. I assure you I have no interest in speaking to Gabrielle.”

 

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Greg’s eyes got flat and cold. “It’s best that you don’t. It would upset Heather, and I wouldn’t appreciate it. If you can’t get along with her, you should leave. Let me know if you need anything.” Cal felt his mouth drop open. What the hell had that been about? Actually, now that he thought about it, everyone had been a little chilly around him lately. He looked around the elegantly decorated room and felt the weight of judgmental eyes on him. What exactly were they judging him for? Gabrielle laughed brightly, and he knew. She was getting her revenge by talking bad about him to their mutual friends. He wondered what stories she’d told. He hadn’t expected that of her. She’d been so sweet when he’d known her. She’d been the kind of woman who was always kind, even when she probably shouldn’t be. Had it all been one big lie to try to get him to marry her? A knot of bitterness twisted inside him. He’d been mooning over her while she’d been getting a boob job and bitching behind his back. If she thought he would let her get away with it for one moment, she had never known him at all. **** Gabrielle knew the minute her day went to complete hell. She felt his eyes on her, and every nerve in her body turned on like someone had flipped on a switch. She tried not to look at him, but her eyes kept finding his tall, muscular form. Cal stood in the middle of the crowd, but there was no question that he was alone. He was a man who held himself apart. Gaby excused herself and sought a quiet part of the yard. She lingered at the edge of the pool, hoping Cal didn’t notice her. It had been months since she’d even thought about sex, but the second she realized Callum Reed was in the same room, her hormones started singing a chorus.

 

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“I am so sorry, sweetie,” Heather whispered, walking up to her and giving her a big hug. “He finished up the deal in Atlanta. I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect him to come, even if he didn’t have a deal to work on. He’s been completely MIA for months.” “He hasn’t been going to the club?” She couldn’t imagine Callum not spending time at the fetish club he’d helped to start. It was where they had first met. It was where they had first made love. It was where he’d first fucked her, she corrected herself. She felt her mouth draw into a straight line. She had to be realistic. Callum Reed had loved one woman in his life, and it wasn’t her. “Nope.” Heather looked thoughtful as she took a sip of her margarita. “He only came in once. He had a Scotch, walked the dungeon, and then went home. Alone. I expected him to start going through a sub a night the way he did before he met you, but as far as I can tell, he’s been alone.” She seriously doubted he’d been alone. She snuck a glance his way. He looked gorgeous in his designer suit. It was black with pinstripes and fit him perfectly. She knew he had them done by an Italian tailor. He picked them up once a year when he went to Milan on business. She smoothed her shaking hands over the dove gray dress she’d bought for thirty-nine ninety-nine at a discount store. When she’d been with Cal, it had been designer clothes all the way. Of course, she hadn’t been paying for all those clothes. Or the house, or the car. She paid for everything now, and everything had become decidedly bargain basement. Despite the nice salary Greg paid her to run his island resort, she had racked up some massive bills. “I’m sure he’s just been discreet. He hasn’t been celibate.” Callum Reed wasn’t capable of celibacy. He was the kind of man who needed sex at least twice a day. He’d take it as often as he could get it, of course, but twice a day was his absolute minimum.

 

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He would wake her up every morning, his hard cock poking her in the backside. He would roll her over and thrust inside before she was even awake. Other times, he would work warm lube into her ass before spreading her cheeks and pushing into her tight hole. Morning was quick and hard. Night was long and languid. He could play with her for hours. Sometimes, she thought he viewed oral sex the way some people watched television. “Don’t let him ruin the party for you, Gaby,” Heather practically pleaded. “Tomorrow, you have to go back, and I’ll miss you again.” She would miss Heather, too. Heather had been a rock for the last hellacious year of Gaby’s life. “It’s only for a few weeks. You’ll be out at the resort in June. Greg has big plans for your anniversary. I’ll make sure to have the handcuffs shiny for you.” “Oh, honey, I always bring my own.” Heather winked at her. She glanced up as though she suddenly remembered her duties as hostess. “I have to mingle. I saw you talking to Harrison Kirk. He’s a keeper, dear. A Dom looking for a permanent sub.” “Yeah, I’ve heard that before.” She smiled weakly as Heather walked off to mingle with her husband’s friends and clients. Gaby was left clutching a half-filled margarita glass. She shrugged and made it an empty margarita glass. A pleasant warmth started in her belly. Going ten months without liquor made her a cheap date. She vowed that when she got back to work, she would start going to happy hour with her staff. It had been long enough. It was time, she thought, staring up at the night sky. It was time to grow out her hair and drink some martinis and meet a new man. She took a deep breath. It was time to start living again. “Gabrielle.” She resisted the urge to drop to her knees. She turned and looked at the man she had loved enough to walk away from. “Hello, Cal,” she said evenly. “How are you?”

 

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He looked her up and down. His dark blue eyes showed absolutely no expression. They assessed her, roaming every inch of her body, giving nothing away. “I’ve been perfectly fine, Gabrielle. How have you been?” His hand was suddenly on her elbow. Her skin tingled where he touched her. He didn’t pull at her, merely squeezed gently, and she let him lead her. They began walking slowly away from the pool. “I’m well.” She was unhappy with the shakiness of her voice. She sounded like a scared rabbit. It wasn’t the impression she wanted to make on Cal. “That’s nice.” His voice sounded perfectly even. He could be negotiating a deal, rather than talking to an old lover. “From the evil glances I’m getting from some very old friends, I would think I had tried to kill you.” She glanced around, and sure enough, everyone looked worried. Damn Heather and her big mouth. It was supposed to be a secret. She smiled brightly and slipped her arm through Cal’s. She had no interest in the two of them becoming a focus of gossip. If she seemed comfortable with her ex-lover, perhaps the other guests wouldn’t talk about them. She tried to look nonchalant. “I have no idea why. I haven’t seen any of these people since I left town ten months ago. Maybe it’s me they’re wary of.” “I doubt that, pet,” Cal said, all silky and smooth. His voice had a direct line to her soft parts. “Even my oldest friend seems to have turned on me. Greg barely spoke to me this evening. His friendliest words were to tell me to leave you alone. I swear, Gabrielle, if he didn’t need me to broker his deals, he might not talk to me at all. Now I wonder why that is.” Gaby flushed. “I don’t know. I have never spoken to Greg about us.” “I’m sure Heather talks enough.” Gaby felt her heels sink into the grass as they left the deck. The evening grew darker as the lights from the torches got further away.

 

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The gazebo in the distance seemed to be Cal’s destination. She followed willingly. If they were going to talk, it was best to do it in private. “I can’t control Heather’s mouth.” She let a naughty little smile curve her lips up. “That’s supposed to be Greg’s job. He’s her husband, after all.” Cal helped her up the gazebo’s steps. He was always solicitous. It was one of the first things to attract her. He was a Dom of the first order. Gaby had been looking for someone like Callum since the day she realized there was a whole little world out there for people like her. She’d gone through a couple of men who claimed to be Doms but really just used it as an excuse to be selfish. A real Dominant was someone like Cal, who always took care of her, even if he didn’t love her. “Well, as it was pointed out to me so recently, a Dom only has as much control as his sub allows him.” His dark eyes were almost black in the moonlight. He looked a little tired to Gaby. She fought the urge to smooth down his tie and snuggle in his arms. He wasn’t hers to take care of anymore. He turned to her. “What have you been up to, Gaby?” Her hand unconsciously went to her breast, thinking of the pain that centered there. “This and that.” He leaned back, staring at her as though trying to decide something. “I never could figure you out, Gaby. I didn’t know if you were simply content to be kept or if there was some ambition under the placid surface.” She felt herself flush. She was suddenly happy for the darkness. “Well, you weren’t interested in my ambitions, Cal.” He shrugged. “I just wondered what you did all day.” Her laugh was bitter and without an ounce of humor. “I ate bonbons and watched soaps, Cal. I counted the hours until you got home.” She turned away from him and looked out over the yard. In

 

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the distance, her friends mingled and laughed. She still seemed so far away from them. Maybe she would always seem far away now. Distance had given her a little perspective, especially when it came to Callum. “You weren’t interested in who I was as a person, Cal. You were interested in who I was as a sub. I was docile and sweet. That was what mattered to you. I didn’t ask questions or make demands. It was a D/s relationship. It wasn’t a love affair.” She knew the difference now. His fingers ran across the exposed skin of her shoulders. The little spaghetti straps that held her dress up offered little protection against his gentle assault. She shivered at the touch. “And you don’t want that anymore, do you, Gaby? You don’t want a man to dominate you? You don’t want a man to take charge?” Oh, there were certainly parts of her that did. His hands ran down to her waist, settling on her hips. She should be pushing him away. She knew it. When he pressed his groin against her backside, she could feel the hard ridge of his erection, and she knew she wasn’t going to walk away. It was just sex, she told herself. Sex with Callum had been mindblowingly good. There wasn’t any reason she couldn’t enjoy it again as long as she held herself apart. It had been so long. And tomorrow morning, she would be on a flight back to paradise, where she was surrounded by gorgeous men she couldn’t fuck because they were either an employee or a guest. Cal pressed his hard dick against her, and she decided it was like a little treat. She could handle it. Hell, after what she’d been through, she could handle anything. “I didn’t say I wasn’t interested in a Dominant man,” she heard herself saying in a deep, seductive voice she didn’t quite recognize. He chuckled behind her, his breath warm against the back of her neck. “I didn’t think so, pet. You always did love the dirty stuff. It’s hard to believe a woman as submissive as you could really walk away from it all together. Do you have a new Dom, Gaby?”

 

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“No.” She was barely managing to breathe. His hands moved up her torso. He cupped her breasts, seeming to weigh and learn their new contours. She stilled, trying to figure out what to say if he asked about the obvious changes there. She wished so much she was still sensitive. She used to love the feel of his hands on her breasts. “Why not, baby? You love this.” It sounded almost like an accusation, but Gaby was too busy rubbing her ass against his cock to really register the menace in his voice. There was a distant alarm bell going off in the background of her brain, but she ignored it. She wanted, no, needed, what only Cal had ever been able to give her. “Gabrielle,” he said in that dark voice of his, “get on your knees.” She turned and complied, shutting her brain off. This wasn’t a place to listen to reason. This was that glorious place where she just listened to Callum. He would take care of her. He always did. She dropped to her knees, the hard wood of the gazebo just another sensation to be had. “You know what I want, pet.” His voice was seduction in and of itself. She couldn’t refuse him when he used that voice on her. Her hands trembled as she undid his belt and unbuttoned his slacks. It didn’t matter that anyone could walk up on them. That thought just made her wetter. It felt so good to want something. His big cock sprang out as she pushed his boxers out of the way. She sighed as she saw the pearly drop already leaking from the slit of his dick. She couldn’t help herself. Her tongue came out. She ran it across his head, gathering the pre-cum. It was salty on her tongue. She wanted more. She lightly pulled just the head of his cock into her mouth, milking him gently for the salty stuff. “Damn it, Gaby,” he growled. “Suck me.” His hands came down, tangling in what was left of her hair. She briefly bemoaned its loss. The new pixie cut was chic, but she’d only gotten it out of necessity. She remembered how Cal loved her long hair. He would wrap it around his fist and gently direct her. Now, he

 

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struggled to get a hold of it. He managed and pushed his cock into her mouth as he pulled at her head. She let her tongue whirl around his silky, hard shaft. She relearned the shape and feel of him. She let him guide her, sucking hard along him. He pushed her, tunneling his way to the back of her throat, then groaned as she fought him. She hollowed out her cheeks when he tried to pull out. “God, you give the best head, Gaby,” he muttered. She turned her eyes up. He was looking down, watching his cock fuck her mouth. His eyes were hot as he peered down. His hips thrust forward. She checked her gag reflex and concentrated on breathing through her nose. She reached up and rolled his tight balls in her hands. He hissed, the sound pushing out between his teeth. She’d heard it so many times and knew exactly what it meant. He was close, so close. His cock swelled in the already tight confines of her mouth. It was only seconds before he would come. She couldn’t wait. When he was done, it would be her turn. He would pull off her panties and arrange her on the bench. He would spread her legs and feast on her pussy. It would feel so good. “I’m going to come, pet,” he announced softly, but with purpose. “That tight mouth of yours is too much. You’ll swallow me. Don’t lose a drop.” She would have smiled if she hadn’t had a mouthful of urgent cock. As if she would do anything else. She softened her throat. Callum groaned as she swallowed around him. He’d described it once as a soft, sweet vise around his dick. It was different than her pussy or her ass. The sound of Cal’s moan filled the gazebo and rolled over her, filling her with an erotic pride. He might not have loved her, but he’d always made her feel wanted. The first hot jet of Cal’s cum spurted onto her tongue. The taste was familiar, and Gaby heard her own throaty sounds as she struggled to push him as far as he could go. Gaby swallowed, not wanting to miss a drop. She sucked him while he softened. He pulled out of her mouth with a soft pop.

 

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She sat back on her heels, a little surprised. She drew in the humid air, struggling to catch her breath. Usually, he wanted her to lick him clean. It was a soft time she craved. He would stroke her hair while she ran her tongue along him. He would tell her how much he enjoyed her, how pretty she was. He said nothing now, merely tucked his cock in and zipped up his pants. He didn’t even lend a hand to get her off her knees. She pushed up against the bench to get herself into a standing position. “Thanks, sweetheart.” Cal’s voice made a mockery of the quiet surroundings, pulling her out of their intimacy. “How much do I owe you for the hummer?” “What?” It was penetrating her brain that he’d used her with no thought to making it mutual. His sensual lips looked a little cruel. “The blow job, Gaby. How much? I think I have a fifty on me. I know you don’t fuck me just for fun.” “I thought…” She let the sentence dangle as humiliation swept over her body. “What? Did you think I wanted to fuck you, baby? Did you think I’d take care of you now? I have it on the highest authority that I’m no longer responsible for your orgasms. You have some fingers. Take care of yourself. Or, you could ask that asshole you were talking to earlier. Maybe you can get a ring out of him.” He winked at her. It was an ugly thing. She felt him stare at her, and her skin chilled under his cold appraisal. “I don’t want to fuck you, Gaby. I’m afraid this new look you’ve come up with isn’t attractive. The boobs are bigger, but I can’t stand silicone, and you know that. The hair is terrible, and you’re far too thin for my tastes.” She touched her hair and felt the tears start. It had only started growing back a few months before. She’d been right to leave him, she thought in a bit of a daze. He wouldn’t have stuck around anyway.

 

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She wobbled on her heels. It didn’t matter. He just cured her of any lingering desire for him. She’d never been anything to him but a convenient lay and a cheap housekeeper. He couldn’t treat her the way he just had if he’d ever cared about her. She patted her hair down. “Sorry you don’t like it, Callum,” she managed with as much bravado as she could muster. “You should have seen it a couple of months back. You would have loved it then. As for my skinny body, well, I found the best diet ever. Chemo will get you to your goal weight in a hurry. Keep your money, Cal. I’ll consider the blow job a life lesson. Goodbye.” She walked away from him, holding her head high when all she wanted to do was sulk away and cry. She strode past the pool, ignoring the people who greeted her. She got her purse and went straight out to her car without saying goodbye to her hosts. It was rude, she knew, but she couldn’t face anyone now. She started the car just as Cal caught up to her. “Gaby!” Even inside the car, she could hear the command in his voice. She pulled away. She didn’t owe him anything. Gaby felt the sadness well up inside her as she drove off. There was nothing between them, not even friendship. In the morning, she would get on a plane and leave him behind again. It was time to go home. **** Cal strode back into Greg’s house knowing full well he looked like an angry bull. People all around him moved quickly to get out of his way. He thought briefly about getting into his Jag and pursuing her but changed his mind. It was obvious that a lot had been kept from him. He needed to know what had been going on. Greg knew. That son of a bitch knew and hadn’t bothered to mention it to him.

 

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What had happened? Chemo? What sort of cancer had she lived through? His heart thudded in his chest, and the room seemed to squeeze around him. She’d been so thin. How long had she had…he couldn’t say it, even think it. Had she known when she left him? Across the room, he saw Greg laughing at something Heather said. Anger raced across Cal’s system. He welcomed it. Anger was easier to deal with than the fear and guilt that had crushed him from the moment Gaby had smoothed down her hair and made her announcement. His stomach was in knots. Beating the shit out of Greg would make him feel infinitely more in control. Greg looked up, regarding him with a little bit of disdain in his eyes. That disdain was quickly replaced with startled shock as Cal bore down on him. Cal was satisfied at the way Greg’s eyes widened and he quickly set his beer down and pushed Heather out of the way. He looked at Cal like he probably would look at a snarling dog. His hands came up, wary, worried. “Cal, whatever is going through your brain, we should talk about it.” “Fuck talking,” he spat out as his fist connected with Greg’s jaw. The sight of Greg hitting the floor satisfied Cal deeply. “God damn it, Cal.” Greg picked himself up. He rubbed his jaw. All around them, people looked on in shock. Heather pushed at Cal, her manicured nails shoving at him. “You, asshole. Get out of my house,” she swore. He looked down at the woman he’d known for ten years. He’d introduced her to her husband. Now she looked at him like he was a monster. It didn’t matter. “I’m not going anywhere until someone explains what the hell is wrong with Gabrielle.” Heather’s eyes turned down. Cal knew her well enough. A small suspicion started in the back of his brain. He turned to Greg, who pulled his wife out of the line of fire. “I think you should leave now, Callum.” Greg’s voice was stony and flat.

 

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Cal held his ground. He wasn’t going anywhere until he got what he needed. “I told you. I’m not leaving until you explain why Gaby needed fucking chemotherapy. Don’t pretend. I know you know.” Greg ran a hand over his jaw. “Of course I know. Who do you think paid for her reconstructive surgery?” “What?” It came out as a startled gasp. Cal felt his knees buckle and had to force himself to keep standing. The world had just tilted, and he didn’t like where he landed. “Holy shit, Cal.” Greg put an arm on Cal’s shoulder to steady him. The wary, almost disdainful look that had been on Greg’s face was replaced with confusion. “Are you telling me you didn’t know?” He felt his jaw firm into granite. He bit his words out. “Do you honestly believe I would have allowed her to go through that alone? I might be a son of a bitch, but I have always cared for my sub. I took care of Gabrielle.” “Not enough to marry her,” Heather said under her breath. Greg turned to his wife. “You have a lot of explaining to do, little one. Don’t look at me that way. This isn’t some small rebellion. This is you coming between me and my oldest friend. This is very serious.” “I never lied to you, Master,” Heather said stubbornly. Cal knew she was flustered. She’d used his title at a decidedly vanilla party. “Cal, if you would join me in the office. I think we should conclude this in private. Heather, see to our guests.” His voice went low. “I will see to you later, slave. It will not go well for you, love.” Greg stalked through the crowd. Cal followed, anxious to hear Greg’s explanation. Gaby’s pale face haunted him. He’d used her ruthlessly, wanting to pay her back for every restless night he’d had since she left him. He could hear his cold words, calculated to hurt her. He was so ashamed of himself. He sank into the soft leather of the sofa as Greg closed the door behind him. Cal tried to steady his shaking hands as Greg quickly poured him a couple of fingers of Scotch. The single malt burned a path to his gut.

 

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Greg’s head shook as he took his own drink. “I can’t begin to tell you how sorry I am, man. All this time, I thought you knew.” “Will you just tell me what the fuck I’m supposed to know? Give it to me straight.” He took another long swallow. He had the feeling he would need it. Greg sat down and looked Cal in the eye. There was no anger left, only a weary sadness. “Eleven months ago, Gaby was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer.” Cal’s hand tightened around the glass so he wouldn’t drop it. He knew her family history. Gaby’s mother had died of breast cancer when Gaby was just sixteen. She must have been terrified when she’d gotten the news. He hated the thought that she had been alone. He should have been by her side. He let his head fall forward as Greg continued to talk. “It had spread to her lymph nodes. Given her family history with it, the doctors recommended she have a bilateral mastectomy. She refused at first. It was only in one breast.” Cal’s head came up. He felt a moment’s pure panic. “Tell me she did what the doctors told her to do. Tell me they took both of those things off her body.” Greg nodded, leaning forward. “Heather talked her into it. It was a really bad time. Gaby was worried no one would want her after the surgery. She was a little lost. You had just broken up with her.” “Is that what she told you? I didn’t break up with her, Greg. She walked out on me. I got completely blindsided. She gave me an ultimatum. I had to tell her I loved her and would marry her, or she would leave. You know how I deal with ultimatums. Did she tell you I kicked her out?” Greg rolled his eyes, obviously angry with himself. “No. She never said that. Heather never said it either. She simply didn’t correct my mistaken impression. I just couldn’t imagine that she would leave you. Gaby loved you so much. I could see it in her eyes when she looked at you.”

 

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Guilt rose up like bile in his throat. “None of this explains why you thought I would hurt her like that.” “Don’t blame Gaby. She had other things on her mind, and I never asked her about the situation with you. I was just angry. I’ve always felt a sort of protectiveness toward Gaby. She’s been friends with Heather for a long time. I suppose I viewed her as a little sister. I also felt guilty because Heather and I introduced the two of you. I was a little upset to hear you had paid her off.” “She didn’t have a job at my insistence,” he explained. “Our contract had a clause I wrote in for her protection. She got fifty thousand if we broke up after two years. I didn’t miss the money. I signed over her car, too.” He thought for a moment. “I didn’t see it here. She was driving some little compact.” “She sold the BMW to pay for her medical bills. She didn’t have insurance, and that money you gave her didn’t go far. She still owes a hundred thousand. She was going to forgo the reconstructive surgery because she couldn’t afford a plastic surgeon. Again, Heather convinced her to let us cover it. She still tries to pay me back.” Cal was still pissed at Heather, but it also seemed like he owed her. “How much was it? I’ll write you a check.” “Don’t worry about it. I took care of it. She won’t let me pay the rest of her bills, but she did let me give her a job. She’s managing the island.” He said the last bit with the slightest wince. Cal went still again. “My Gabrielle is managing your sex resort?” Greg flashed a short grin. “She’s really good at it. You would be surprised how hard it is to keep a good manager out there. Don’t get pissed at me. She needed it. It took her away from everything.” “Yes, everything, like hospitals and medical personnel to monitor her condition,” Cal complained. “Did you think about that for a minute?” Greg sat back, watching him. “Her second in command is a registered nurse. I hired him myself. She isn’t a fragile flower, Cal. She’s strong and smart. She has had all her checkups. That’s what

 

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she’s in town for. Heather took her today, and the doctors are very happy with her progress. Look, Cal, I am really sorry about this. I acted like an ass. I should have had it out with you, but I let Heather and Gaby convince me to let it be.” “I didn’t help by pulling back. I haven’t called you or talked about anything but business. If I had just fucking called you, maybe I could have been there for her.” It was his own stubborn fault. After Gaby had left, he’d closed down. Now that he looked back, it was like she had walked out of his life, taking with her everything that made it worth living. “You can stop worrying about her, Cal. Actually, I’m glad to find out you still care about her. Maybe you can talk to her. I’d like to introduce her to some Doms I know. It’s been long enough. She won’t be happy in a vanilla relationship, but she’s very shy. She’s worried about her body. I tried introducing her to Harrison tonight. It would go better if you could convince her it’s all right for her to join us at the club. She can mix and mingle.” The very thought made his blood pressure rise. “Why the fuck would I want my sub mingling with a bunch of horny Doms?” A knowing smile played on Greg’s mouth. “What are you saying?” “I’m saying stop trying to set up my sub with another Dom,” Cal ground the words out. He knew he sounded crazy, but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t sure what he was feeling. All he knew was that things weren’t finished between him and Gaby.

 

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Chapter Two Gaby let the sun warm her face, and a strange sort of contentment suffused her. It wasn’t happiness exactly. It was calm. She was calm here. It had happened the minute she got off the plane. A sense of peace passed over her like a warm wave. Some people called it island time. The world just seemed to slow down on a tropical island, and the little things didn’t seem so insurmountable. With the sun warm on her face and the sound of the ocean in her ears, she seemed far from that place where her heart was broken. This was a different world, and she had another chance here. She wiggled her toes in the thick Caribbean sand and smiled at the couple walking past. “Gaby, isn’t it a lovely day?” A gorgeous redhead in a teeny tiny white bikini called out a greeting. The woman held hands with a man she had not come to the resort with. Gaby was pretty sure her husband was fucking a blonde in the hot tub. She had briefly watched the couple as she instructed the staff to clean the deck. The couple hadn’t even looked up from what they were doing. Oh, the joys of swingers weekend. “It certainly is.” Gaby nodded and gave the couple a friendly wave. The temporary couple walked off looking for privacy. It surprised her, since most of the couples didn’t bother with anything as bourgeois as privacy. Sometimes, Gaby wondered where Greg had found his first manager. Gabrielle was the second to manage this little piece of paradise, but she had no illusions that running a fetish resort required a certain sense of humor many people didn’t have.

 

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“Seriously? I just saw that guy with two brunettes and a totally hot hockey player,” a familiar voice said. Gaby gave the newcomer her most brilliant smile. He shook his head as he watched the couple walk down the beach. “We’re supposed to pretend we don’t recognize the famous people,” Gaby reminded her dear friend, Chris. He leaned into her. Chris didn’t believe in personal space when it came to his friends. Gaby slipped her arms through his. She loved how tactile he was. She could always count on a hug from him. “Especially when they swing both ways.” A decadent grin crossed Chris’s face. He was a metro hottie with stylish dark hair and green eyes. He used far more product on his hair than she used on hers. When it came to style, she could learn a lot from him. “Honey, he was swinging more than two ways. I’d love to see what that man could do with a hockey stick and a tube of lube.” Gaby laughed and pushed affectionately at him. “Pervert.” “I wouldn’t work here if I wasn’t, G.” His green eyes had that sparkle in them that told Gaby someone hot was on the horizon. “Speaking of perverts…the man in the Angelina Suite is so hot, I think I could die.” A smile slid across her face. She checked her watch. It was an hour before she had to check in on the luncheon arrangements. Her staff was a well-oiled machine. It made her life fairly easy and gave her time to listen to Chris’s amazingly detailed physical descriptions. She sank down into the sand and patted the ground next to her. “Hit me.” Chris sighed as he joined her. “Okay, he’s roughly six-two.” “Linebacker or swimmer?” Hot guys came in two categories in Chris’s world. “Oh, swimmer. He’s lean, but so strong. His hair is dark as midnight. His face isn’t perfect. He’s hit thirty-five the hard way, but life and experience are just written all over him.” Gaby snorted. “You should really be writing romance novels.”

 

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He waved her off. “His eyes are blue. They’re a deep blue, and when he smiles, which he rarely does, there are these great creases around them. They give him character. He has sensual lips. No man should have those lips. I can feel them wrapped around my cock right now.” “Don’t tell me he’s gay,” Gaby protested playfully. Everyone was gay in Chris’s fantasies. Even the most macho of men secretly harbored a love for guys in Chris’s world. “You just ruined all my daydreams.” Chris looked serious for a moment, his brows coming together as he thought. “He’s not gay. I’m also not sure why he’s here this weekend. You know I’ve been around the lifestyle for a very, very long time.” Chris’s parents were a D/s pair. They’d been in a loving relationship for thirty years. Chris often claimed his parents’ comfort with themselves had led to his own pain-free acceptance of his sexuality. “This guy isn’t a swinger, and he’s straight as an arrow, unfortunately,” Chris said with a rueful sigh. “He’s a Dom. Trust me, I know one when I see one.” “Did Heather send him?” Gaby groaned. “She’s been on my ass to find another Dom. I can’t seem to get her and Greg to understand that I don’t want another one.” Chris’s eyebrow shot straight up. “You want a vanilla boy?” She shrugged. “Sure, why not? Maybe I want a plain, old, boring love affair where I don’t have to kneel at his feet and call him Sir. Maybe I don’t want to get tied up or have my ass spanked the second I step out of line. Maybe I don’t want to get tortured by someone who makes me come for hours and then gently bathes me.” Chris coughed. It sounded suspiciously like “bullshit.” “I’m serious. I want a regular relationship this time,” she said firmly. The truth was she wasn’t sure what she wanted. She just knew

 

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it was far too soon to get seriously involved with another Dom. “But a hot affair for a weekend is a completely different story.” “Now, you’re talking. I think sex would make you feel good. I think righteously nasty sex will make you feel even better.” His handsome face was deceptively innocent. He touched his hand to his heart. “You should listen to me. I’m your murse.” Gaby rolled her eyes but leaned into him all the same. He called himself a murse, a meshing of male and nurse. Chris Linwood was the best present Heather and Greg could have given her. He was the registered nurse who had helped her through her surgery. Chris had been the one to push and prod her into getting better. He’d been the one to hold her hand when she came out of surgery in so much pain she thought she would die. He’d heard her crying for Callum. She shook off the thought as she shook off the sand from her khaki shorts. Being the manager of Decadence Resort didn’t call for formal clothes. Her staff had simple uniforms, but she tended to wear whatever she liked. “You said he was in the Angelina Suite? Maybe I’ll take him a gift basket.” Gaby shook her head as Chris got excited. “Don’t think it’s going anywhere. He’s still a guest. I just want to take a look. If he’s as hot as you say he is, maybe I’ll make an exception.” “I stand ready to take over so you can debauch yourself for the weekend.” He gave her a saucy salute. She had to smile. She walked up toward the gorgeous plantationstyle resort she called home. She wouldn’t actually start a red-hot affair with the Dom in the Angelina Suite. But it couldn’t hurt to look. **** Twenty minutes later, Gaby checked herself out in the ornate mirror outside the resort’s most expensive suite. She made the mental note to talk to reservations. They should have notified her the minute

 

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the suite was reserved. She hadn’t checked on his name, but she knew he had to be a VIP if he could afford the Angelina Suite. Her brown hair was just starting to get long enough to curl. She grimaced. The tropical humidity was not being kind to her. She didn’t bother to wear any makeup, other than a bit of mascara and some lip gloss. At least her boobs looked good. They were perky in her neat little polo. And despite what her asshole former Master had said, she was gaining back the weight she’d lost. Her curves were coming back with a vengeance. If she didn’t stay away from the buffet, she would be right back at pleasingly plump. She held the very nice fruit basket in one hand and plastered a professional smile on her face. “Come on in,” a masculine voice said after she knocked. The door swung open, but all she saw was a nice view of a ripped back. “I’ll just slip into some pants and be right with you.” The gorgeous towel clad figure with the deep voice disappeared behind the bathroom door without ever letting her see his face. He reminded her of Callum. She sighed as she looked around the suite. Everything looked like it was in its proper place. It was a gorgeously decorated room. The art on the walls were abstracts done by up-and-coming artists. The sofa and chairs were all Italian leather, and her feet sank into the rich carpet that covered the floor. She opened the curtains to give the new guest the best view of the ocean. The Angelina Suite had a stunning balcony that overlooked the blue Caribbean. She took in the sight of white sand beaches and a turquoise blue ocean. The sun sparkled on the waves as they lazily took and gave up territory. She smiled at the scene before her. Couples walked hand in hand, a woman played like a child in the sand, building castles that would last only as long as the low tide. She took a deep breath. The day smelled like clean ocean breeze and sandalwood. The smell brought her right back to Cal. When he’d put his arms around her, she had been able to smell the soap he used,

 

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clean sandalwood. The scent had always made her feel safe. God, she thought, was she ever going to forget him? It had been two weeks since that night in the gazebo. The first week had been fueled by a righteous fury, but now, it had died down to a sadness she couldn’t seem to shake. She smiled and went about her business, but ripping Callum out of her heart had been hard. She just seemed a little empty now. What was she doing here? She was never going to hit on this guy, no matter how hot he was. She needed time. She needed to be with herself for a while, maybe a long while. “Uhm, I just wanted to drop off your gift basket and welcome you to the resort,” Gaby said in her most professional voice. “Let us know if you need anything. Just call the lobby.” She walked across the suite and had her hand on the door when a voice stopped her. “Why don’t I just call you, Gabrielle?” The voice was dark and deep. It was a voice that haunted her. Her breath caught. She forced herself to turn. “Callum?” He was a sight in black jeans and nothing else. His dark hair had been towel dried and curled around his ears. A sheen of moisture gleamed across his cut torso. Her mouth watered at the sight of his six-pack. She’d always craved his body. “In the flesh, so to speak.” There was a satisfied smile on his face that told her he was reading her like a book. “It’s good to see you, Gaby. I thought we should talk.” “There’s nothing to talk about.” She shouldn’t have told him about the cancer. She didn’t need his guilt. There was absolutely nothing for him to feel guilty about. She forced herself to smile. “Now, I have work to do. Please let the front desk know if you need anything. I hope you enjoy your stay.” She turned to go. “Gabrielle.” He barked her name like an order. Gaby stopped, unconsciously used to following his commands. “You will not walk away from me. We are going to talk this out. You lied to me. You left me under false pretenses. I want some answers.”

 

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“I don’t owe you anything, Cal. If you’re pissed about the money, I’ll find a way to pay you back.” His fists clenched at his sides, a sure sign he was emotional. It almost never came across in his voice, but she could tell by the tension of his body. “I don’t give a shit about the money. I want to know why you didn’t tell me you had cancer.” She sighed. It wouldn’t do any good to reopen old wounds. “It doesn’t matter now. I’m fine. You’re fine. We were in a relationship that was going nowhere. Now, we can both find better partners.” “Is that why you’re here? Are you fucking the guests to figure out what you need?” A hot anger rushed through her. How dare he accuse her of that. “Screw you, Callum. Like I said, call the desk if you need anything.” He reached out to grab her. His hand was gentle but insistent. “Gaby, wait. I’m sorry. I’m screwing it up again. I just want to talk. I’ll keep a civil tongue in my head. Please have dinner with me. I’ve spent the last two weeks working day and night so I could spend time with you. Check through my things. I didn’t even bring my cell.” Her eyes widened. Cal was surgically attached to his cell phone. He was always working. His hands worked gently, stroking up and down her arms. It was a familiar gesture. She knew she should pull away, but she found herself unwilling to move away from him. “Are you serious?” “I shut down my office and cleared my cases,” he explained. “You were wrong, Gaby. I’m not fine. I haven’t been since you walked out on me.” She was quiet for a moment. She couldn’t believe he would actually stop work. Whatever he had to say to her must be damn serious. It seemed beyond dangerous to spend time with him. Any weakness would be used ruthlessly. It wasn’t cruelty on Cal’s part. It was just who he was. She should walk away.

 

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“All right,” she heard herself saying. Her voice came out softer than she liked. She forced her tone to be no nonsense. “But just dinner. Nothing else.” He smiled, showing even, white teeth. He held his hands up in supplication. “Just dinner. Just talking. I have questions I need you to answer. In return, I’ll answer any questions you have for me.” She swallowed. Was he serious? When they had been together, he’d blocked off huge portions of his life that she wasn’t allowed to discuss with him. She should still walk away, but she was so curious. “I eat at seven in the main dining room.” “Gaby.” He said her name like a prayer. It forced her to turn and really look at him. She noticed the weariness around his eyes and the way his forehead creased with worry. “Thank you.” She nodded and walked out of the room. **** Callum watched her across the table. The main dining room was a vision of modern dining. The colors were muted, but elegant. The tables were covered in clean white linens. It was very different from the old, sturdy hotel Greg had sent him out to scout. It had been one of the first deals he’d brokered for Greg. At the time, the resort had been lovely, but dated. Even Cassie had noted the hotel’s old-fashioned feel on the many occasions he had taken her here. Cal wondered just how much Gaby had contributed to the stunning rehab of the place. He saw touches of her aesthetic everywhere. Gabrielle had exquisite taste. She had taken their home to an entirely different level. Why had he never brought her here? The waiter smiled at Gaby with obvious affection. Cal had noticed that her staff seemed to adore her. Greg had said she was strong, but she looked fragile to him. She was lovely in a purple skirt and low cut

 

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white blouse. The white of the blouse contrasted with her tan skin. Still, she was too thin. He wondered if she was eating properly. He wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms and let her know that he would handle everything from here on out. He would talk to her doctors. He had already dealt with the bill collectors, but he didn’t mention they wouldn’t bother her again. All she would have to do was rest and concentrate on being in remission. He would take care of her. “You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to keep a cleaning staff,” she explained with mirth in her eyes. She was so animated. Her eyes lit up when she talked about working at the resort. “They all come in and are so excited about working at someplace this beautiful, but the first orgy they have to clean up after makes them think twice. Can you believe that Greg actually ordered cloth couches? They’re gorgeous, but do you know how hard those suckers are to clean? I switched everything to leather. It’s much simpler. He moaned about the cost, but then he saw how fast our cleaning bill went down.” Her expression was so cute he had to laugh. Then he thought about the fact that she ran orgies, and he frowned. “Are you sure this is the best place for you? Shouldn’t you be close to a hospital?” They had tiptoed around the subject of her illness. She had acknowledged that she had cancer, but now, it was in remission. It seemed to be all she was willing to say on the subject. “I love the sun and beach,” she replied with a dreamy smile. “And Chris is a murse, so we’re good.” “Murse?” She speared a cucumber. “It’s his name for male nurse. Apparently, it’s a very hot job for a gay man. He claims to get a lot of tail out of it. Anyway, he also rides my ass about my eating habits and checks me on an altogether too often basis. He deeply enjoys taking my blood pressure.” She popped the little vegetable in her mouth, her lips caressing it briefly before it disappeared.

 

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Callum played with his fork. He wanted to reach out and grab her hand. He used to like to play with her fingers while they ate. Even better than that, when they were alone, he loved to pull her into his lap and feed her. She was naked, of course. He took a quick swallow of his tea. He was getting an erection. “I’m glad Greg hired him.” “He wouldn’t give me the job unless Chris came along,” Gaby admitted. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He carefully kept all accusation out of his voice. Gaby’s gorgeous gray-green eyes suddenly found the white table linen endlessly fascinating. He noticed the fine lines on her face that hadn’t been there before. He wanted to lean over and kiss them, enjoying the lovely way her face was maturing. She would be beautiful at eighty. He would still want her. He reached out and forced her chin gently up. He looked into her eyes. “It might not have been the best relationship of your life, but I was honest with you, Gaby. And I tried to take care of you.” She nodded. “It wasn’t your fault that you couldn’t love me.” The very sentence made him feel guilty. “Did you think I would kick you out? How could you believe that?” “I didn’t,” she replied. “I knew you would stand by me.” “Then why did you leave?” “Because I know how hard it was when Cassie died. I didn’t want to put you through that again. I was going to leave no matter what you said. I just wanted to know. I knew the truth. I had to hear it from you, so I could move on with my life.” Her words made Cal’s head start to pound. How could she have been thinking of moving on, when all he’d been thinking about was her? “And it didn’t matter that I cared about you? It didn’t matter that I had built a life with you at the center?” Her short brown hair shook as she sighed. “I was incidental to your life, Cal. I was something you collected, like your art.”

 

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“How can you say that?” He didn’t like the accusation. “I took care of you. I made sure you had everything you needed.” “And you cancelled most of the plans we made,” she said softly. There was no real heat behind her words. It seemed like something she had accepted a long time ago. “I remember our first anniversary. I planned an amazing meal. I made your favorite lasagna. I put on a French maid’s outfit and waited. Do you remember what happened?” His face flushed. “I called you from the airport on my way to New York.” “And my birthday?” “I’m sure I forgot that altogether.” She pushed her salad around on her plate, and he wished he’d never asked the original question. She’d been so happy talking about her work. “Your admin remembered. I should have known it was her. She sent me roses.” He would never have bought her roses. “You hate roses. You like lilies.” “I do,” she replied. “I guess your admin didn’t have a list of my favorite things.” Now he did what came naturally. He reached out and took her hand. It was time to open up to her. He’d hated the last ten months with a passion. He was more than willing to apologize if it bought him a second’s goodwill with her. Despite his earlier promise, he really wanted to end the evening buried deep inside her body. “I am so sorry about that, Gaby. Maybe I did pay too much attention to work, but you were always in my thoughts. I got flustered at that meeting in New York because I missed you. Sometimes, I had to force myself to focus, because if I didn’t, I would have called you just to say hello or to find out what you were doing and what you were wearing. If you look back at our relationship, you’ll remember that I actually did that often. I called you when I was away, just to hear your voice. Oh, I made up excuses. I gave you lists of things to

 

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do, but mostly, I just wanted to know you were there. And I wanted to pretend you were naked.” “I’m sure I was wearing very little at the time,” she said with a wistful smile. “That was my hope.” He squeezed her hand, a little afraid to let it go. “I know I didn’t show it, Gaby, but you were the center of my world. I thought I was building a life for us.” “But you didn’t want to marry me or have children with me,” she said quietly. Her eyes were soft as she shook her head. “There wasn’t a future in that for me.” He felt his mouth firm in frustration. He felt a little trapped, though, strangely, not by Gaby. Cal suddenly realized this was a trap of his own making. “Does it have to be mapped out? Why couldn’t we just be happy? Why do we have to bring a bunch of kids into the equation?” The very thought of children made his throat close up. Children were fragile. Children were small and vulnerable. Women still died giving birth. He couldn’t handle that. She pulled her hand out of his. Her posture became rigid, and he missed her previous comfort. “We don’t have to do anything, Cal. We aren’t together anymore. You don’t have to worry about me having your unwanted babies.” His fist hit the table. “Damn it, Gaby. I didn’t say that. You never once mentioned that you wanted kids before the night you left me. Can you let me catch up?” “Will you?” She seemed more curious than truly interested in his answer to the question. “I don’t know,” he muttered, irritated at the way the conversation had gone. “It’s okay.” Her hands came out to cover his. She was so quick to comfort him. “Forget I said anything, Cal. How long are you here?” “A week.” He loved the way her hands felt against his. He had one week to try to win her back.

 

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“Can we shelve the relationship stuff? Look, Cal, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about us. I’m not sure we were ever going to work. It’s just as much my fault as yours. I pretended to be something I’m not. I’m not as submissive as I played at. I like it for sex. I’m more independent now. I went through something that made me understand how strong I am. I’m not a slave anymore.” “I never thought of you that way.” She took a deep breath. “But a slave is what you seem to need. I should never have gotten involved with you. I wasn’t what you needed.” He was startled at the very thought. She had been everything he needed. He’d been as happy as he could have imagined himself being for the years they were together. At first, it had been about sex and comfort, but after about six months, he’d gotten comfortable and settled into the relationship. “You were exactly what I needed. I wasn’t what you needed.” She’d been right. She’d played the role of his wife to perfection. She’d kept his house, hosted his parties and dinners, and kept the books. He’d never had to worry about anything beyond work. Between Gaby and his longtime assistant, Helen, he’d been covered on every front. Now, he wondered how hard it had been on her to think of herself essentially as an employee rather than a beloved female. Her mouth curled up in the semblance of a smile. “I thought I needed you. It’s funny now. I was twenty-six and so sure that I knew what I was doing. I was sure that you just needed time. I met you and decided you were the one for me.” He remembered the night like it was yesterday. Greg had introduced them. He’d heard about Heather’s close friend for months, but he hadn’t cared. He wasn’t ready for anything like a relationship. Cassie had only been gone for a year. It was far too soon to think about anything beyond his physical needs. He’d been annoyed that he had to meet her. He didn’t want to be polite to one of Heather’s

 

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friends. All of that had changed the minute he looked at her. She’d smiled shyly at him, and he was lost. “I knew you didn’t want anything serious…” He cut her off. “I signed a contract with you two weeks after we met. I know I wasn’t interested in marriage, but that contract was serious to me.” She took a sip of her drink and nodded, obviously conceding the point. “All right. I’ll rephrase. I knew you weren’t interested in anything beyond a D/s relationship.” He hated the way she put that but forced himself to remain silent. He wasn’t going to win her over by arguing semantics. “So I became your perfect sub,” she explained. “I’d never been in a twenty-four seven relationship before. I never even wanted one, but I knew it was the only way to keep you, so I tried it. I was really arrogant. I thought that if I became exactly what you wanted, you would love me. I thought we’d be married and have some kids and everything would be perfect.” “I never promised you that.” He’d promised her the exact opposite. “I know. It’s all right, Cal. I’m trying to explain. It wasn’t your fault. It was mine. I knew what you wanted, and I tried to change you anyway. You told me you would never love another woman, and I arrogantly thought I could change your mind.” She sat back in her chair. Her shoulders straight, her head held high. “I was wrong to do that to you. I knew from the moment I met you that I wanted to marry you and have babies with you. I should have honored your feelings and walked away that night.” He swallowed a long drink of Scotch. He wouldn’t have let her walk away. He’d known he had to have her. “Instead, I forced us both to waste three years of our lives. So, I want you to know that I don’t hate you. I’m pissed at myself, but I certainly don’t hate you. You couldn’t help the fact that I wasn’t

 

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someone you could love. I know you feel bad because you didn’t know about the cancer.” “You didn’t tell me,” he growled the accusation. “Hey,” she said softly. It was the voice she used to soothe him. “I didn’t want to worry you. It wasn’t your problem. It was mine. I knew it would bring back all kinds of bad memories. You didn’t need to go through losing someone again.” His hands clenched. He wanted her to hold his hands again. “That wasn’t your call to make, Gaby. You should have told me. You should have told me the minute you suspected something was wrong. I would have taken care of it. I would have taken care of you. I consider it tantamount to lying that you kept this from me.” She shrugged. The negligent gesture enraged him. It took everything he had not to toss her over his shoulder and find someplace more private. “I wasn’t anything more than a nice body in bed with you, Cal. You wouldn’t think my body was so nice after chemo decimated me. And you were right. You don’t like silicone. You wouldn’t want me now. I saved myself some heartache. I have no doubt you would have done your duty by me. But that was all it would have been.” “God damn it, Gaby,” he practically shouted. He slapped at the table, making everything on it jump. “Give me some fucking credit.” He flushed as he realized he’d lost his temper in front of a roomful of guests. Eyes were curious all around him. He could tell that his anger wasn’t intimidating to Gabrielle in the least. She practically rolled her eyes at him. It made his hands shake with the need to turn her little rear over his knee and reintroduce her to the boss. His little sub needed a spanking. “Calm down, Cal,” she said in an even voice that set his temper on edge. He leaned forward. “I am trying to be fair with you, Gaby. I’m trying to have a conversation about this rather than giving you a lecture.”

 

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“How very kind of you.” There was a quirky smile on her face. Her perky ass wasn’t all he’d smack. He’d spank her pussy, too. He’d slap at it until she begged him to let her come. By the time he was through punishing her, she wouldn’t be thinking of anything having to do with her illness or her insecurities. All that would be left was the driving need to orgasm. Gaby might not understand it, but she needed their relationship more than ever. “Don’t push me, pet. I won’t hesitate to redden your rear in front of these people. They won’t help you.” Gaby frowned, but he got a blush out of her. “I am not yours to discipline anymore.” The last bit was said with no small amount of hesitance. It was still in her nature to mind him. He still had a shot. He knew his smile was slightly feral. He wanted her to sense the predator he kept carefully hidden behind designer suits. Maybe she hadn’t really known him. He’d never been forced to pursue her, so she’d never been treated to the beast he knew he had inside him. “That is not your decision to make, Gaby. You can take the collar off, but I’ll put it right back on now that I understand why you left. I fully intend to have that collar around your neck by the time I leave here. You’ll be on the plane beside me.” Now she turned the slightest bit white. Color fled from her face, and her fingers tightened around the fork in her hand. “Cal, I understand you want to punish me,” she started. He made sure his eyes were very serious as he interrupted her. “This isn’t about punishing you, Gabrielle. This is about making things right. We should never have split up. I was wrong to allow you to leave. You left under a misconception. I intend to correct it.” Her mouth tightened. “Do you have any idea how arrogant you sound? Allow me to leave? I wasn’t under a misconception, Cal. We had a difference of opinion. I wanted to get married, and you didn’t.” His heart pounded, but he forced his face to remain relaxed. He’d known this was what he needed to do, and he intended to do it. He’d

 

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made a terrible mistake ten months back. Gaby could argue all she liked that she would have left no matter what, but he knew differently. He’d spent the last two weeks thinking about what he owed his submissive. Once he decided what he owed Gaby, he’d known his path was chosen, no matter what promises he’d made in the past. He had an obligation to her. “I’ve changed my mind. We’ll stop in Vegas on our way home.”

 

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Chapter Three Gaby felt her mouth drop open. “What?” Cal smiled smugly. It made her want to smack him. “We’ll stop in Vegas. We’ll get married there. You said you would be happy if we got married. I’m willing to do that for you.” The dinner was not going as she planned. She had thought she could sit and logically work through the end of their relationship with Callum. She understood he was upset. She owed him an explanation. She expected him to yell at her. She expected him to try to get her in bed. She didn’t expect a marriage proposal. It hadn’t, she realized suddenly, been much of a proposal. “I’m not marrying you.” One elegant eyebrow arched up. “And why not? You said this is what you wanted.” “No, I wanted you to fall in love with me. I wanted you to want to marry me,” she ground out. It should be plain. She shouldn’t have to humiliate herself to make him understand. His deep blue eyes narrowed. Gaby felt the weight of his intensity. “You told me what you needed, and I’m giving it to you. I have a ring in my bag. If it’s not nice enough for you, I’ll pick another one, but I assure you, the diamond is of the highest quality.” “I don’t care about the diamond.” She felt her temper threatening to explode. She’d dreamed of this moment. She’d thought about how he would propose once he realized they were perfect together. Never, in all those fantasies, had he proposed to her because she “needed” it. She felt tears threatening because a part of her still wanted to take this gesture of his and run with it. That part of her that would never stop

 

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loving him told her to put that ring on her finger, and his love would come later. It was an illusion, a little girl fantasy she had to let go of. “I should think you would care about your engagement ring,” he replied. “I spent an enormous amount of time making sure it was the best I could buy for you. I designed the mounting myself.” “I’m sure it’s lovely.” It was past time to end this discussion. She stood up suddenly. He wasn’t going to be reasonable. “It doesn’t matter because I have no intention of marrying a man who doesn’t love me.” He remained seated. “Do you want me to say the words? I can certainly say the words if you need them.” He looked cool and collected in his white dress shirt and neatly pressed slacks. Only Callum could keep his clothes perfect in the tropics. Everyone else wore shorts or casual dresses, and even those got wrinkled in the heat, but Callum looked like he’d walked straight off the pages of a magazine. Gaby knew her hair wilted in the heat. It bothered her that Callum’s hair curling just made him more appealing. Tears were threatening, and she’d promised herself she wouldn’t cry over him again. What she wouldn’t give for him to say he loved her if he really meant it. “It doesn’t mean anything if you don’t feel it, Cal. We both know you don’t love me.” He stared at her for a moment, his eyes tired as he ran a hand through his thick hair. “Do we? I know I’ve missed you. I know I’d greatly prefer to have you in my life. Why can’t that be a version of love?” “Because it isn’t,” she spat. There was no talking to him. She felt the walls closing in and knew she needed to get away from him. “I have some things I need to see to, Cal. I hope you enjoy the rest of your dinner.” His hand reached out to grab her arm. His face was a slab of granite. “I won’t enjoy the evening without you, Gabrielle. I thought I made that clear. Don’t walk away from me. I’m willing to sit and

 

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discuss this with you, but if you walk away, I’ll be forced to try something else.” “This isn’t fair.” “It wasn’t fair of you to walk out on me under false pretenses,” he said in an altogether too reasonable voice. “Put the shoe on the other foot, Gaby. How would you feel if I walked away? If I hid a serious, potentially life threatening illness from you, how would you feel? You could have died, Gaby. Would I have even been informed? Would you have let me go on not knowing what had happened to you?” He said it evenly, but she knew him. She could hear the emotion in his voice. It made her heart hurt. “I figured Greg would tell you.” He laughed bitterly. “Of course. I’m sure he would have told me gently, since you didn’t bother to mention to him that I hadn’t kicked you to the curb the minute I heard you were diagnosed with cancer.” “I didn’t mean for that to happen.” Gaby snatched her arm away. She backed up before he could get a hold of her again. “I’m sorry. I never said any such thing to him or anyone else. I need to go. I hope you enjoy your stay with us, Mr. Reed.” She could hear him curse, but he didn’t leave the table. She walked away quickly. She didn’t have to look back to feel his eyes on her. She shivered slightly and was disconcerted to find it wasn’t from fear. That was in there, too, but she couldn’t fool herself. Being so close to Callum aroused her. She’d spent most of the last year worried that her sex drive was simply gone. Now she knew it was just waiting on the one man she shouldn’t want. Gaby turned out of the dining room. Several staff members greeted her, but she merely nodded and kept walking, putting distance between her and Cal. She needed to be outside. She needed to feel the sand under her feet, to remind herself that she was here and different than before. Every instinct in her body wanted her to go back to Callum and sink to her knees. Cal would take care of her, but she

 

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didn’t need that anymore. She was strong and powerful. She could handle everything on her own. The moon was full as she slid out of her heels and let her toes wiggle in the still-warm sand. The Caribbean lay in front of her like a shimmering jewel. Gaby let the breeze soothe her heated skin. Cal had her aroused on every level. Just thinking about him got her emotional. Being close to him set her every nerve on edge. It had been impossible not to reach out and touch him. She kept telling herself to keep her hands on the table, and yet, they naturally sought out his skin. She heard someone moan to her left and realized she’d exited next to the hot tub area. Everything at Decadence was built to accommodate sexual desire. It was a private club that served as a playground for the rich with exotic tastes. There were several hot tub areas. One was ultramodern with jets and bubbly hot water. One was attached to the pool, while another overlooked the ocean. This particular area was a Roman bath, and it was currently being put to the use Greg intended. There were five people in the bath area, two women and three men. The bath was a long, beautifully tiled tub surrounded by chaise lounges and palm trees. The men sat in the steaming tub watching as the women put on a show. Two female bodies lay on top of a plush lounger, their limbs entwined. There was a blonde and a raven-haired beauty. The blonde was on her back with her legs spread as the darkhaired woman nestled her head at the juncture of her partner’s thighs. Gaby could see the woman’s tongue darting out to slide through her partner’s pussy. The blonde spread her legs, showing off the wet juices that spilled onto her thighs. “Oh, yes.” The blonde was moaning. Her husky voice was carried by the wind. Gaby stood at the vine covered fence separating the play area from the beach. She couldn’t help but peer across the couple of feet separating her from the erotic scene.

 

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One of the men pulled himself up, perching on the side of the bath. He was muscular, with broad shoulders and short hair. He balanced on one arm, leaning back as his feet dangled in the steamy water. His big hand slid down his wet body. His hand cupped his heavy balls before travelling up to the thick base of his cock. He stroked himself up and down leisurely. Gaby watched, remembering the silky skin that covered Callum’s big cock. It was so beautiful. She loved the feel of him, the play of smooth and strong. Callum’s cock was huge. The first time she’d seen it, her eyes had eaten it up. Her pussy had clenched at the thought of how well he’d fill her up. She loved how powerful she felt when he was in her hands. She would roll his balls against her palm and watch as his cock twitched, just begging for attention. She would lick the head, paying special attention to the V. She would lick that spot over and over, teasing it before swallowing his dick whole. Even though he barked orders at her, she was in control in those moments. The man stroked himself, his cock pulsing. His eyes were on the women. The dark-haired woman licked and sucked at the blonde’s clit. How long had it been since she had cupped her own mound and rode her fingers to pleasure? Frustrated tears filled her eyes. Sometimes it felt like her own body was a foreign thing she would never get used to again. It was a cruel twist of fate to Gaby’s mind. She’d never been one of those women to question her sexuality. She’d been more than happy to take her pleasure. She hadn’t had a ton of lovers, but she’d enjoyed almost all of them. The mistakes she’d made, she’d forgiven herself for. She’d accepted her submissive nature and dismissed anyone who looked down on her for it. The loss of her sexual self was devastating. The blonde cupped her full breasts as the black-haired woman pulled apart her labia, revealing the pink pearl hidden there. She sat up and looked down at her partner’s clit, murmuring words Gaby couldn’t quite hear. She could fill in the blanks. The dark-haired girl

 

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would tell the blonde how gorgeous her little clit was. She would tell her how it was sweet to taste that juicy cunt. The dark-haired woman’s hand came out and slid across the clit in front of her before she leaned over to finish the job she’d started. Her little tongue darted out to tease the blonde’s clit mercilessly. Gaby watched with breathless anticipation as a single finger was added. The blonde groaned and started to ride that finger, her hips pumping frantically. It wasn’t enough, Gaby knew, putting herself in the blonde’s place. She needed so much more than that little finger, but she would shove it in, trying to hit that sweet spot. Cal had done this to her so many times. He would tease her until she wanted to scream. She would try to move against him, try to force him to give her more. That was when the discipline began. No discipline for the blonde, however. Her partner simply smiled and gave her what she wanted. Two and then three fingers disappeared into the blonde’s creamy cunt, and when the dark-haired woman leaned down and gave her clit a long, slow lick, the blonde’s head began to thrash a little as she moaned. Gaby looked over to the men. The man sitting on the side was looking directly at her, and a slow smile spread across his face. He was a very attractive man with blond hair and Nordic blue eyes. His cock was long and thick. He brushed his thumb across the bulbous head. Even from her vantage, she could see the cream beginning to coat him, facilitating his masturbation. The muscles of his washboard abs rippled as he picked up the pace. He stared straight at Gaby as he pumped his cock harder and harder, pulling at it from base to head. His balls drew up tight and close to his body. His face flushed. Gaby could hear the blonde coming, but she couldn’t take her eyes off the man. He breathed out and groaned as jets of creamy cum began to coat his hands. He winked at Gaby and mouthed, “Join me.” Gaby nearly jumped back. It was one thing to watch, another thing entirely to join in. She could imagine his horror when she got naked.

 

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He was practically perfect. How would he react to her breasts? How would he react to the freaky tattooed nipples she sported now? More than that, how could she even think about anyone else when Cal was here? That, above all else, made her want to run. She couldn’t still be in love with Callum. A little panicked, Gaby took another step back and walked straight into a brick wall. Thick arms surrounded her. “You have no idea how lucky you are you didn’t take that asshole up on his invitation,” Cal breathed darkly into her ear. His arms wound around her waist. She was pierced by the sweet feeling it brought. She’d always felt safe in Callum’s grip. She remembered how he liked to sleep plastered against her. It had been difficult at first, but after a while, she came to crave the tangle of limbs Callum preferred to rest in. Even when he moved in his sleep, he pulled her along. She hadn’t slept deeply in ten months. “I wasn’t thinking about joining in.” “Good, because you would have been cleaning up a bloody mess, pet. I understand we have problems to iron out. Do not bring another man into them.” His hands moved up to cup her breasts. She tried to pull away. “Stop it,” he ordered in that deep voice that had her obeying almost mindlessly. She stilled in his arms. She could feel his rockhard cock against her ass. “I’m not hurting you, Gabrielle. I promise my cock will stay in my pants. Relax. Let me make you feel good. Consider it payback for the blow job I stole.” Gaby laughed at the thought. “You were never good at keeping it in your pants, Cal. I’ve heard endless stories of your conquests.” He stilled behind her. “Gaby, baby, that’s just not true.” He turned her around and threaded his fingers through hers. He pulled her away from the bath area and down the beach. It was quieter here, and he sank down into the sand, tugging her between his legs. “Gaby, I admit to having certain exotic tastes, but you’re under a misconception about my level of experience.”

 

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His hands forced her back against his chest. The cool breeze off the ocean caressed her skin. The moon was full and heavy in the sky. It was a truly romantic night. She felt surrounded by him, his arms almost a blanket around her skin. Gaby knew she should get up and leave, but she’d always been curious about Cal’s past. “I was told you went through a sub a night before you met me.” He gently urged her head back as he spoke quietly. “I met you two weeks after the anniversary of my wife’s death, Gaby. Do you honestly believe I started fucking my way through the club when she was barely in the ground?” He asked the question with not an ounce of heat, but Gaby flushed all the same. It seemed she hadn’t been fair to him. It had been easier to think of him that way. It hadn’t lessened her love for him, just made it simpler to leave. “I’m sorry, Cal. I just listened to gossip.” “You listened to Heather,” he accused softly. “She’s never been my biggest fan, even though I introduced her to Greg. I did go to the club. It was hard because Cassie loved it. It was one of the only places she felt perfectly at home. We were married very young. We discovered our sexuality together. She was very submissive, more so than you ever were, pet. Cassie was incredibly soft. Sometimes, the world was a bit much for her. I was her protector. I provided for her.” “I’m sure she paid you back.” Gaby felt the strange need to defend her predecessor. In defending Cassie, she was almost defending herself. She’d never gotten credit for what she brought to the table. “She was different than you.” His hand was on her knee. Gaby was sure she knew what he was doing. It was a manipulative bastard thing to do, she thought ruefully. He was playing with her body, priming her for pleasure. She should get up and walk off, but that would stop him from talking. Cal knew how curious she’d always been. He also knew she was incapable of denying herself this talk. “How?” She gave up the fight. She relaxed back and let her legs fall open. His hand immediately took the ceded territory. She felt him sigh as his fingers cupped her mound.

 

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“For one thing, she followed orders.” He sounded slightly irritated. His fingers impatiently tugged at her panties. “Since when did you start wearing underwear?” She grinned in the moonlight. Underwear had not been allowed in the Reed-Sullivan household. At least, it hadn’t been allowed for her. Cal wore boxers. After she’d left him, buying a six pack of Hanes for herself was one of the first things she’d done. “And this feels like cotton.” He spoke with the greatest of disdain, as though he could think of nothing worse than plain cotton panties. “It is.” She nearly giggled. She’d forgotten how much fun it was to tease him. She hadn’t done it often during their years together, but he always handled it well. He was a man who could laugh at himself. “And it’s white with little pink daisies.” “Gabrielle.” Her name was an admonition. “Start talking about something important or I’ll leave,” she swore. He would spend an hour lecturing her on the proper material lingerie should be made from. “Fine.” His fingers simply slid under the offending material. Gaby let her head fall back against his chest as cream began to pour out of her. It felt so good, so right to have his hands on her again. His fingers slid all around her pussy, gently teasing her clit. “I’ll let it go for now. Cassie wasn’t like you. You are working under the misconception that I chose you because you reminded me of her.” Even under his skillful hands, Gaby tensed. “So you picked me because I didn’t remind you of her.” He pinched her clit lightly, making her groan. It had the added effect of forcing her to relax again. His hand went back to its slow slide through her ever increasing juices. “I picked you because I was crazy about you. Despite what Heather said, I’m not some manwhore screwing every pretty sub to come my way.” “She said you went through a whole bunch of subs before you met me,” Gaby said breathlessly. The night she met him, she had expected to be the same. She was so attracted to him it hadn’t mattered. For

 

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her, it was love at first sight. She’d been willing to take what she could get. “I did, but not in the way you think.” She could feel the hard press of his erection against her spine. “About four months after Cassie passed, I went back to the club. I knew if I didn’t get out, I would go crazy. I met a sub there. I took her up to a private room. She liked to be spanked, so I spanked her. I tied her up, spanked her, and got her off with a vibrator. I found someone else who needed me the next night and the night after that.” “You didn’t sleep with them,” Gaby said softly, shocked at the very thought. She’d never known Cal to go without sex. Even when she was tired or not interested, he would gently push her until she was crazy for him. The only nights he hadn’t taken her were nights he was away on business. Even then, he would call, complain, and swear he wasn’t leaving her behind again. “Gaby, I’ve put my cock inside two women my whole life.” His mouth was pressed against her ear. “I’m sure that blows my macho image, but it’s only been you and Cassie, pet.” “Cal.” She couldn’t think of what else to say. It didn’t make her think less of him. He was an incredible lover. It appeared he was also very picky. “Hush, Gaby,” he ordered. He worked two fingers deep inside her cunt. It had been so long that his fingers seemed to fill her up. “God, you’re so hot. What was I saying? Yes, you’re different from Cassie. Cassie was much more dependent.” She started to open her mouth, but his thumb brushed firmly against her clit, and she felt the desperate need to push herself against him. “I know what you would say if you could breathe, pet, but you’re wrong. You were dependent on me for money, but you were perfectly capable of earning it yourself if you had to. Cassie had never held down a job. I married her straight out of high school. I had a trust fund, which came in handy since my family cut me off for marrying a

 

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girl they didn’t approve of. I didn’t come into it right away, and the first years were hard, but eventually, I used that fund to put myself through school. Cassie remained in our small apartment. She didn’t go to school, and she didn’t work. The thought frightened her. Cassie had a bad childhood. She trusted me, but not a lot of other people.” Cal hooked his feet under hers and opened her fully. He growled at the panties in his way but worked around them. His thumb circled her clit as his long fingers fucked deep inside her cunt. “Oh, Cal.” The feeling was a revelation. It had been so long since her mind was able to turn off. He slid in and out of her pussy, and Gaby couldn’t help but wish it was his cock. “You’re going to come for me, Gaby,” Cal said. It wasn’t a request. “How long has it been since you came?” Gaby didn’t even consider lying. It wasn’t something she could do when she was in this state. “Ten months, two weeks, and three days.” She heard his satisfied chuckle behind her. “So, no other men then, pet?” Another finger joined the first two, and Gaby gasped. Her hips were pressing against his hand now as though they had no choice but to move. “No one else,” Gaby managed to breathe. “I don’t want anyone else, either, Gaby,” he admitted. “I’ve been alone since you left me, though I will admit to self-pleasure. Quite a bit of it, actually.” Gaby laughed through her pounding need. He sounded so surprisingly sweet as he admitted his masturbatory habits. “I’m glad you had something to get you through.” His fingers slowly rotated, scissoring inside her. His hips moved slightly of their own accord. Gaby could feel his erection. It had to be killing him. God, she wanted that cock inside her. She pressed back against him. “I thought of you every time I came, Gabrielle. That moment, when my balls drew up and I knew I was going to spew cum

 

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everywhere, that’s when I saw your face. No matter what I tried to think about, I always saw your face.” His thumb pressed down on her clitoris, and Gaby shouted out. Her cry pierced the quiet night, but she didn’t care. Heat and pleasure bloomed across her body like a hot bomb detonating in her womb. She shook slightly and let herself fall back against Callum’s chest. He continued to pet her for a moment. Every time his hand slid across her clit was like a little aftershock causing her whole body to shake with pleasure. He seemed to enjoy the effect he had. He nuzzled her neck, pressing kisses there. His cock was rock hard against her back, but he made no move to relieve himself. “You’re so beautiful when you come, Gaby,” he whispered against her skin. “You can’t see me.” She was facing away from him. “I don’t need to see you. I have it memorized. Your face is so open when you come. Every bit of emotion and pleasure is written there like a book I helped to write. Sometimes I think I like watching you come even more than I like coming myself.” Gaby snorted. “And I missed that sweet little sound you make when you’re terribly amused,” he said. She could feel his smile on her skin. “I sound like a pig.” It was a terrible habit she couldn’t stop. Callum had always seemed so proper, so well-bred, yet he had always loved the way she laughed. His fingers slid out of her pussy, and she bemoaned the loss. The minute his fingers left her, she found herself on her back in the soft, warm sand. Callum was quick when he was motivated. He loomed over her, his gorgeous face illuminated by the full moon. His lower body covered hers, and he balanced himself on his left hand. With great deliberation, he brought his right hand up to his mouth and painstakingly licked his fingers clean. Gaby could see her cream glistening on his skin just before his tongue came out to lap it up.

 

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“You taste like heaven.” He leaned down, sparing her none of his weight. His mouth took hers, his tongue plunging inside like the raider he was. Gaby gave herself up to the feeling. This was what she craved. His commanding dominance was her weakness. She’d been dominated by other men, but none ever made her feel the way Callum did. She felt all of her trouble flow away. It was always like this when Cal took charge. She could lay back and enjoy because he would take care of her. He would tell her what he liked. He would tell her how much he liked it. She didn’t have to worry about being awkward or doing things wrong. Cal would gently push her the way he needed her to go and praise her when she got there. She let her arms drift up and around his neck. Her tongue came out to play with his, and he growled his appreciation. She could taste her tangy arousal on his lips as he slanted his mouth over hers. His erection nudged insistently at her soaking cunt. He spread her legs wide, leaving nowhere for her to hide from him. He was in control. Now she remembered why she hadn’t worn panties around Callum. They were constantly wet. “Gaby?” Her name was now a question. His eyes were oddly uncertain as he looked down on her. “Come inside me, Cal.” She knew he had promised to keep it in his pants, but there was no way she didn’t want him deep inside her. Her pussy cried out for him. Even though she’d just come, she already ached for him again. He was only here for a week. They should make the most of it. “You’ll marry me, then?” It was like a bucket of cold water had been thrown on her head. “What?” “I asked you to marry me, Gaby,” he said. His face was a mask of desire. His hips pumped against her while he spoke, his dick sliding against her clit, making her crazy. “I deserve an answer.”

 

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“You’re a bastard, Cal.” She was already so hot and bothered again that a part of her pleaded to just give him the words he wanted so he would fuck her. If she just said yes, he would open his slacks, rip her panties off, and be inside her before she could think straight. Her pussy seemed to think that was a great plan. “Probably.” He ground his cock against her, swiveling his hips so he hit her desperate clit just the right way. “But I am a bastard with standards. I have no intention of having a brief affair with you, Gabrielle. I don’t want fast sex. I want commitment. I was uninterested in an affair before. It’s why I had you sign a contract with me.” He’d been damn insistent on his contract, Gaby remembered. She tried to move against him, but he held her still. He was torturing her. He knew exactly which spot to hit to tantalize and tease. She was so close, but sex wouldn’t solve their problems. “You didn’t want marriage then. You were very clear about it.” “Well, if I had realized how little you thought of the contract between us, perhaps I would have insisted,” Cal mused. His face was flushing, his breath becoming ragged. Gaby knew all the signs. He was getting close to coming. “Gaby, seriously, just admit you’ll marry me. I can’t hold out much longer. Come on, we both would rather I was inside you when I came.” “I’m not marrying you, Cal,” Gaby insisted. She squirmed, trying to get out from under him. “Don’t do that, pet,” he ordered, but it was too late. He gasped and gave in. He pressed his cock against her pussy and groaned as he released his cum all over his expensive slacks. He pumped against her over and over, his whole body shaking. His head fell forward, his lips nuzzling against her neck. Gaby was able to roll him off her. She barely restrained herself from kicking sand in his face. He sprawled across the sand like a satisfied warrior. There was an arrogant grin on his face as he looked

 

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up at her. He took deep breaths of the humid air and made no move to come after her. “You’re an asshole, Callum.” He grinned up at her. “But I’m your asshole, Gabrielle. Speaking of assholes. I’ve missed yours, pet. I would really like to tunnel my way in, again. You’re so tight around my cock. Remember how good it feels with me buried in your tight little ass while I fuck your pussy with a vibrator?” She felt a fresh wave of arousal coat her pussy. “Damn you.” She stalked off. “You’ll marry me, Gabrielle.” His words carried across the sand as she practically ran from him. The trouble was, she couldn’t be sure they weren’t true.

 

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Chapter Four Callum stretched and yawned when the knock came. He looked at the door, suspicious of who would be requesting entry at such an early hour. It was barely nine a.m. That was an indecent hour at a place like this. Decadence was a club that partied until the wee hours of the morning. Cal knew this was not a rise and shine place. Still, he had gone to bed early. Cal got out of bed and shrugged into one of the plush robes the resort offered its guests. He crossed the room in four long strides. His hand gripped the handle, and he hoped Gaby had changed her mind. Maybe it was Gaby on the other side of the door and she’d come to surrender. He felt a smile spread across his face at the thought. The man standing in his doorway with a tray in front of him was decidedly not Gabrielle. Cal felt his lips turn down. “I did not order room service.” Nor did he enjoy surprises. The man with the tray was brisk and efficient and seemed not a bit put off by Cal’s dark tone. He smiled, though Cal could see it did not reach his eyes. “All part of the VIP service, sir. My manager asked me to bring you coffee. She says you take it black. There is also an assortment of croissants and muffins she thought you might enjoy.” So, that was her game. Cal opened the door wide. “Tell your boss, it’s a nice gesture, but I’ll still be in the dining room. I have a sudden urge for an omelet.” The waiter pushed the cart through the door and gave Cal what he considered an entirely unprofessional once-over. From the expression on his face, Cal could see he wasn’t impressed.

 

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Cal considered the man entering his room. He was a bit under six feet, so Cal had the height advantage. He wore neatly pressed khaki slacks and a crisp white polo. His haircut was expensive and suited his thick dark brown hair. He seemed a bit young to Cal. Cal found himself quickly sizing the man up as a sexual rival. It was all about the look in the man’s green eyes. He didn’t like Cal, and that probably meant he knew who he was. The only reasonable explanation was that this employee had a problem with Cal’s relationship with his boss. He closed the door and waited to see what the waiter would do. The younger man neatly poured out a cup of delicious smelling coffee. “I wish you wouldn’t.” “Wouldn’t what?” “Go to the dining room.” The waiter’s voice was civil, but chilly. He offered Cal the coffee. Cal took it. He could use some caffeine. “I’ll have to disappoint you then. Do you mind giving me your name? It’s only fair since you seem to be willing to advise me about my dining choices.” “It has nothing to do with your eating preferences, Mr. Reed. I’m Christopher Linwood,” he said. Having done his duty, he faced Callum. “I know all about your relationship with Gaby.” Cal took a long drink of the strong coffee. It was perfect. Cal recognized it as the brand Greg served in his own home, so he knew it was the best money could buy. “If you’re going to try to pass yourself off as her lover, let me warn you. I won’t believe you, and I won’t take it well.” Chris laughed. “Gabrielle is my friend. She’s not my lover. I’m afraid she’s not my type.” Cal suppressed a smile. So, not a sexual rival at all. “Forgive me. You must be the nurse Greg hired. I appreciate everything you’ve done for Gaby. But I have no intention of leaving this island without her. Nothing you say or do is going to change my mind.” Chris’s foot tapped, a sign Cal took as impatience. “I was with her when she came out of surgery, you know.”

 

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The coffee turned to ash in his mouth. Cal put the mug on the counter. He said the only thing he could think to say. “I wish I had been there.” “At the time, I did as well. She cried for you when she came out of the anesthesia. She was in so much pain. She was confused, and she called out for you over and over again.” Cal felt his hands clenching. He attempted to keep his face still, but his chest felt too small. “I didn’t know.” It felt like an excuse. He should have gone after her. He should have known something was wrong. He should never have accepted his dismissal. Chris’s eyes softened slightly. “I know, but you have to wonder why she chose not to tell you. She didn’t trust you. Just because she wants you, doesn’t mean you’re good for her.” Callum’s first instinct was to pick up the smaller man bodily and toss him over the balcony. He took a deep breath. That probably wouldn’t further his cause with Gabrielle. “We were both being very stubborn at the time. I thought she was manipulating me.” “She probably was,” Chris conceded. “She’s not the saint everyone thinks she is. Gaby comes off as very soft and sweet. Then you listen to her chewing out one of our vendors or watch her deal with an unruly guest.” “She can take a strip out of your hide, that’s for sure.” Cal smiled, remembering one particular phone conversation he’d overheard when she’d discovered one of the contractors he’d hired to renovate the bathroom was overcharging them. She’d been patient for a while, but when she didn’t get her way, she’d cussed a blue streak. Callum recalled standing outside the office listening in. He’d been quite proud of the way she refused to back down and got everything she deserved. He hadn’t mentioned it to her. He’d pretended not to have heard a thing. He’d known that it would be a turning point in their relationship. He would be accepting her as something beyond a submissive. He would be accepting her as a partner, and he hadn’t

 

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been ready for that. He wasn’t sure he was ready now, but he didn’t seem to have a choice. Chris’s eyes narrowed. “I’m surprised you know about Gaby’s temper. I thought she played a role with you.” “Oh, she did, indeed.” Callum gestured to one of the elegant seats that formed the intimate parlor of the suite. He sat down on the sofa, willing to try the coffee again. Chris sat back, and Callum continued in a civilized fashion. “She pretended to be perfectly submissive, but I knew from the beginning it was a bit of an act. Gabrielle likes to be told what to do during sex. She craves it. Like many very strong females, she almost needs permission to allow herself to let go. Submission gives this to her.” Chris waved his explanations away. “Yes, I know this. I’m not a tourist. The question is, why did you allow her to pretend to be twenty-four seven with you?” Callum shrugged. “It wasn’t pretend. She really was for the time she was with me. I thought, at the time, she could be happy like that. I can see now that I was gradually giving up control as I became more comfortable in the relationship. At first, I kept everything very separate. By the end, Gabrielle had taken over the accounting for my law practice. She ran the household. She ran my life. I was the one pretending to still be in control.” “Is that why you refused to marry her?” The coffee mug came down on the end table more forcefully than Cal intended. “That is none of your business.” Chris gave no sign he noticed Cal’s loss of temper. “I disagree. It’s my task to keep her healthy. Part of that is to keep her spirits up. I’ve been an oncology nurse for six years, Mr. Reed. Medicine is only a part of recovery. Gabrielle’s will and spirit are very important. I’ve managed to keep her calm and focused up until roughly two weeks ago. Our meditation sessions have gone to crap since she came back from Dallas.” “Meditation?”

 

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“And yoga,” Chris replied. He seemed ready for Cal to deride him. “Meditation has been found to help cancer patients. It alleviates fatigue and increases positive thoughts. Laugh all you like, but I believe it helps.” “I am not laughing,” Cal said quietly. “Gaby believes this?” “Yes.” “But she’s still taking her medication?” Chris rolled his eyes. “Yes, of course. The meditation works in tandem with the current protocols. I’m not some flake trying to convince her we can solve cancer by holding hands and chanting. However, I do believe that keeping her spirits up is intensely important. It’s why I came here to ask you to leave.” “I can’t.” Cal was surprised at the longing he heard in his own voice. He cleared his throat self-consciously. “I don’t mean to disrupt Gaby’s life. I mean to set it back on an even keel. She was wrong to leave me. I could have helped her enormously through this.” “And when the time came to make the decision to take her breasts? How would you have helped then? Gaby was a plaything to you. Would you really have advised her to lop those gorgeous breasts off? I know you used to parade her around that club of yours and show off her lovely body. She has scars now.” Cal was on his feet, unable to contain his anger. “Listen, you little shit, I couldn’t care less that Gaby has scars. It wouldn’t have been an issue. There wouldn’t have been a discussion. She wouldn’t have been alone and vulnerable and worried. I would have told her what I wanted. I would have told her I wanted those things off her body and that I wouldn’t care if she didn’t reconstruct them at all. I would have told her she’s beautiful whether or not she has breasts.” Chris held his ground. His arms went across his chest as he stared at Cal for a moment. “Now that, I didn’t expect.” Cal huffed and found himself pacing. “And what did you expect? That I would charge in, take one look at Gaby’s scars, and run away?”

 

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A rueful smile crossed Chris’s face. “I suppose I did. I don’t have a very high opinion of you.” “Join the crowd.” The nurse shrugged. “Would it help to know that it’s changing?” “Gaby’s opinion is the only one that matters.” Cal crossed to the windows that overlooked the ocean. The waves just kept rolling in. Cal allowed the sound to calm him a bit. He could understand why Gaby was happy here. It was very peaceful. He heard Chris get up behind him. “Would you teach me?” “Teach you what?” The nurse sounded a bit surprised. “To meditate.” “Why?” Cal turned and regarded the man who served as Gaby’s confidant. It was a role he hoped to take over. “I don’t know if it works, but some people think positive energy can be healing. If Gaby believes this, then why can’t I add mine to hers?” The nurse’s entire face softened. “All right. Why don’t you go put on a pair of sweatpants or something comfortable? I’ll show you a few techniques. How long do you intend to stay?” “As long as it takes.” Cal’s reply was sure. Chris laughed. “Then I should have plenty of time to teach you.” **** Gaby stared at her admin. She stood over Jackie’s desk and felt her eyes narrow and her heart rate speed up. It took a moment to let it sink in. “He did what?” Jackie swallowed once, and then twice, before finally answering. Her eyes looked owl-like behind her glasses. “He asked for the financials. He wanted to review the P&L and asked for a detailed accounting of capital expenditures. He also wanted to look at the Fuller file.”

 

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It was the only lawsuit she’d had to deal with since she’d taken over the resort. It was a minor annoyance, something every hotel had to deal with. A guest had slipped in the hall coming in from the pool. Gaby knew her staff had done everything they should have done. It was just a question of settling. Why the hell would Callum need to look through her books and read a file on an open lawsuit? He was supposed to be a guest. Guests didn’t come into the management office to make sure their former subs were performing adequately. “And you just gave it to him?” Gaby was aware her voice had taken on a distinctly menacing tone. Her admin looked startled. “I…he asked for them.” Jackie’s hands twisted in her lap. Her brown eyes were suddenly watery behind the lens of her glasses. Gaby gave herself a second to check the anger that was threatening to bubble over. It wasn’t really Jackie’s fault. Cal could be very intimidating when he wanted to be. He was probably furious with her for ignoring him all day. It was obvious Cal was on a power trip. She couldn’t hold her poor admin accountable. “Okay. So he came in and threatened you. I will deal with him, Jackie. I am sorry you had to deal with that.” Jackie shook her head, and a dreamy little smile crossed her face. “Oh, no, Gaby. He was really nice. He asked if you were in, and when I told him you weren’t, he looked so sad. I think he likes you.” The last bit was said with a little sigh, as though Jackie really envied her. It set Gaby’s teeth on edge. “So you just turned over our financials to him because you were worried he had a broken heart?” More than likely, she’d turned it over because he had startlingly piercing blue eyes and a devastating smile. Jackie took a moment. She seemed a little confused. “I thought Mr. Hall sent him.” “I would have informed you if Mr. Hall had sent someone to review our finances.” For a moment, Jackie seemed to be getting the notion that she had done something wrong. She sat up straight in her chair and sucked her

 

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bottom lip between her teeth. She shook it off and gave Gaby an encouraging smile. “I don’t think he’s out to do anything bad. He seems like such a nice man. When he ordered in lunch, he asked me what I wanted, too. He even made coffee for me. Isn’t that nice? Such a nice man wouldn’t do anything bad.” “You should be glad you live on an island, Jackie. You would be horribly murdered by the first serial killer to come along.” Gaby turned and strode out of her office. She checked the clock in the hall. It was almost eight. Cal had requested a table for two in the main dining room at eight o’clock. Gaby had no doubt that he’d been sure she would be sitting across from him. This whole episode with the financial data was Callum’s way of forcing her to meet with him. It was just like him. He couldn’t possibly take no for an answer. She’d spent the entire day avoiding him. He’d shown up to her meditation hour and sat down beside her, offering to hold her hands in his. He’d said something about adding his energy to hers, and she’d fled. It had been too close to what she wanted from him. Since that time, his number had popped up on her phone three times an hour. Her voice mail was full. After the fiasco on the beach the night before, Gaby had decided that the only way to keep her hands off Callum was to avoid him altogether. He was only here for a week, and then he would retreat back to his precious law office. There was no way he would stay away from work for too long. She knew deep down that he didn’t intend to stay here for a whole week. He thought he could snap his fingers and give her those intense looks of his and she would be on the next plane to Vegas with him. He would, no doubt, sign all the paperwork the cheapo wedding chapel would require, and then he would set her back at home on a shelf. He would take her down when he needed her, and he would forget about her the rest of the time. He’d said he thought about her always. The words floated through her brain. Cal never lied to her, even when it would hurt her to know the truth. Oh, she didn’t doubt he fudged a bit about jeans that didn’t

 

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particularly flatter her, but then, that wasn’t something that mattered to Cal. This would matter to him. No. He was just trying to get her under control. He couldn’t find her today, so he was letting her know he would cause trouble if she tried to avoid him again. Damn him. He was trying to use her business to force her hand. He would find out just who he was dealing with. Gaby strode into the elegant dining room. She didn’t care about the people who looked at her. She stood out among the well-dressed diners. This was a black-tie dinner. The elegant, Asian-inspired, fivecourse meal was being served by efficient, discreet waiters and waitresses. Nothing ever shocked this group, Gaby knew. But now they all stopped to look at her. Gaby was dressed in cutoff jean shorts, a slightly dirty white T-shirt, and sneakers. She knew her hair looked a mess because she’d spent the day working on the resort’s docks. It was the one place Cal would never expect her to be. Though she’d tried to clean up in the bathroom in her office, she’d been distracted by the news that Cal was checking her accounting. She spotted him across the room. Of course, he had the best table in the house. Cal wouldn’t settle for less. And he had replaced her, she noted. He was sitting in his tux talking to someone else. It looked like a man. They sat together at the table overlooking the magnificent Caribbean. Cal laughed. His dark head was thrown back before he continued to speak to his companion, and Gaby knew she’d had enough. As she walked up the four stairs that took her to the upper dining area, Cal looked over. He saw her, and a smile broke across his face. His eyes lit up, and she saw him mouth the word “Gaby.” He looked at her like she was the sun in the sky. It momentarily threw her off. Then, Cal’s companion turned. “Hello, G,” Chris said with a grin. Her best friend was sitting with the enemy. “How could you?”

 

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Chris’s green eyes widened. “How could I what? Look this fabulous? It isn’t easy, G. It starts with amazing genetics…” Gaby practically growled at him. “You know how I feel about him. How could you sit here with him after everything he’s done to me?” “What exactly have I done, Gabrielle?” Cal’s voice was flat. His smile was gone. Gaby knew it was completely irrational, but for a moment, she wished it would come back. “I have cared for you. I put my life on hold to follow you and try to mend our relationship. I hoped to spend the day with you. When you refused to answer my calls, I stepped back because I knew you needed space. What about any of that do you find fault with?” Gaby felt her mouth turn down. Stubborn pride welled up inside her, causing her to stand a little straighter. He wasn’t turning this around on her. “Oh, yeah, Cal. You really took a step back. You went to my admin and requested my books. How dare you?” “Uhmm, Gaby. Let’s calm down. You’re making a bit of a scene, dear.” Chris looked around the room. Cal’s fingers were drumming along the table. “Gabrielle, when it became obvious you were going to great lengths to put distance between us because you’re afraid to be alone with me…” Gaby practically screeched. “Afraid!” “Yes, pet.” Cal kept his voice quiet, his eyes taking in the crowd that was surely watching them. Gaby didn’t care. “You’re afraid because you know I can have you on your back with your legs spread, begging me to fuck you. Relax. I mean to give you time.” “Oh, yes, that’s why you went to my admin and tricked her into giving you my books.” Gaby pointed her index finger at him and did nothing to lower her voice. “Tricked?” “Gaby, seriously, why don’t you sit down?” Chris looked around the dining room. Gaby could see his embarrassment rising, but he’d betrayed her by dining with the enemy. He was supposed to be on her

 

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side. “We can have dinner, and Cal can tell you all about his new investment.” “I don’t care about his new investment. I want him gone. I’m going to call security.” Cal took a deep breath. “I am being patient, Gabrielle. If you don’t want to talk tonight, then I’ll wait. If you don’t want to talk tomorrow, then I’ll wait. If seeing me in the dining room upsets you, then I’ll go back to my suite and eat there alone.” His refusal to fight was making her crazy. She wanted…she wasn’t sure what she wanted, but it wasn’t for Cal to walk off the battlefield. She wanted him as pissed off as she was. “You’ll leave my resort, and you’ll do it tonight.” “Sit down, Gabrielle, before you make a complete fool of yourself.” “You’re the one who’s made a fool of himself. That information you stole was proprietary. You aren’t this resort’s lawyer. We have a lawyer in Bridgetown.” “You also, as of three days ago, have a new owner, Miss Sullivan.” Gaby took a step back. The truth flooded her system. Greg wouldn’t do this to her. He knew how important this place was to her. He wouldn’t let Cal buy in and have control of her job. “No. Greg would have told me. Heather would have told me.” “Heather doesn’t know. I asked Greg to keep it quiet.” Cal stood up. He sighed and held his hand out. “Please sit down and join us. I was just talking to Chris about how to tell you. I bought in because Greg explained how much it means to you.” But Gaby wasn’t really listening. She heard what he said, but all that went through her brain was that he had never taken the time to bring her here. She remembered the pictures he had in boxes in his closet of him and his wife here at this resort. He’d brought Cassie, but he hadn’t found the time to bring her. He hadn’t thought of this place associated with anyone but his Cassie until he needed to control her.

 

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Thinking only of wiping that inviting smile off his face, Gaby picked up his two fingers of fifteen-year-old Scotch and threw it in his face. She knew it was a mistake the minute she did it. The glass fell from her hand, and she stood stock-still for a moment. Her eyes finally took in what her friend had tried to warn her about. Everyone in the dining room was watching. She looked at Cal. What had she been thinking? Why had she pushed him? “Callum, I am so sorry.” “Not as sorry as you’re going to be, pet.” He calmly used his linen napkin to wipe the Scotch from his face. He looked down at his formerly immaculate dress shirt and silk bow tie. He shook his head as he pulled the tie off and tossed it on the table. Gaby took an all-important step back. It was past time to calm down. Cal was too still. It was making Gaby very wary. “Cal, let’s talk about this.” “Too late.” Gaby turned to run, but he was on her in an instant. Before she could make it down the steps, he hauled her up and over his shoulder. Her ass was high in the air, and he smacked it soundly. “Asshole!” Gaby yelled when his hand came down on her backside. Cal smacked her other cheek. “You’ll get one for each and every time you curse at me, pet. When you add it to the punishment you’re about to get for embarrassing me and yourself in front of our guests, you’re in for a rough night.” Gaby looked to Chris, who was standing by the table. “Call security.” He shrugged. “He’s actually the boss, G. I don’t think security will toss him out. You should probably use your safe word.” He shouted that from across the room because Cal was moving quickly. Gaby had no illusions as to where he was going. Cal had helped design the play areas of the resort. He knew his way to the resort’s dungeon. He would probably know it blindfolded.

 

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“Would it work?” Gaby asked, relaxing against him. There was no way she could fight him. Kicking and scratching would just get her in more trouble. “I will always honor your safe word, Gabrielle.” He stopped at the bottom of the stairs that led to the dungeon. “Are you going to use it?” All she had to do was say the word “red” and everything would stop. Cal would place her on her feet and walk away. One little word and he’d probably leave the island altogether. Gabrielle had never said the word to him. She had studiously avoided it, even in their normal lives. “No, you bastard. I’m not using it.” His hand slapped her ass again, and he started up the stairs. This was why she pushed him. She’d pushed him because she couldn’t ask for what she wanted. She’d pushed him because she was in a corner and didn’t know how to get out. She couldn’t go back to him. She couldn’t be with him the way she had been before. Too much had happened. But she wanted this. Her whole body craved him. Even as the cheeks of her ass burned from the sting of his hands, she knew she was wet and ready to take more. Cal kicked open the door to the dungeon, paying the man at the small desk no heed. Gaby saw the security guard hustle up from his desk and follow them into the room. “Miss Sullivan? Is that you?” Cal whirled around, and Gaby’s world shifted. She couldn’t see the guard anymore. She stared at the back of Cal’s shirt. She could still smell the Scotch. “I would suggest you back off.” Cal’s voice was low and tight. Gaby could tell he was coiled and ready to strike. “Look, Mr. Whatever your name is. She’s my boss, and I won’t let her be mistreated.” “Glen…” Gaby started, but a swift smack stopped her. “We’re in a dungeon, pet. Remember your manners. I did not give you leave to speak. She is my sub, and I’ll have your head if you try to come between us.”

 

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“Hey, Glen.” Gaby craned to look up. Her dungeon monitor, a Dom named James, was hurrying across the room. “Is there a problem?” James asked. “He has Gaby,” Glen replied, sounding unsure. “Has she said her safe word?” “No.” “Then back off,” James barked. “And, Glen, that’s Callum Reed. He’s part owner of the place now.” Cal was walking again. Gaby wondered if he’d take her to a privacy room or if he intended to chain her up in the main dungeon. “Does everyone know that except me?” “I asked Greg not to tell you. I talked to James earlier today. That’s the only reason he knows. I wanted to make sure the dungeon was well-stocked.” He smacked her ass again, the sound cracking through the dungeon. “And I didn’t give you permission to open that mouth.” He sat her down on her feet in front of a padded sawhorse. “Take off your clothes, Gaby.” Her hands immediately went to her chest. She panicked at the thought of being naked. There weren’t many people in the dungeon, but later, there would be some. Even the swingers liked to come play down here. They would see her scars. Cal took the choice from her. He hauled her up and pushed her across the sawhorse, her chest on the padded back. Her ass was off the apparatus, and Cal efficiently tied her hands together under the bar. “Do you need a gag?” She spat out her response. “No, asshole.” Gaby pulled at the expertly tied restraints. He’d used a silk scarf from the table near the apparatus. Gaby saw that there was a tray of neatly placed restraints ranging from rope to handcuffs. Cal always preferred silk. Her hands were tied palms together. The knot was tight, but not so tight that she would lose circulation.

 

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Cal’s eyes were dark when he kneeled and looked up at Gaby. “Not another word, unless it’s your safe word. I’ve been indulgent up to this point.” Indulgent? Her ass was on fire. Unfortunately, it was on fire in a way that also had her pussy pulsing. She relaxed against the padding and let her cheek rest. The wall in front of her was mirrored, and she could watch Cal work. The first thing he did was request a knife from Master James, who was more than happy to provide it. Damn it. She was going to make him replace her shorts. She wasn’t afraid, just excited, as she watched him carefully cut the denim from her body. She watched as he sighed when he saw the white cotton panties she wore. Two flicks of the knife and they joined the shorts on the floor. Cal pulled off her shoes, and she was naked from the waist down. The sight of her naked ass in the air made her feel vulnerable and got her heart to pounding. “Thank you, James.” Cal handed the dungeon monitor his knife but made no move to dismiss him. Gaby felt herself flush slightly. James McKnight was her employee. Greg had hired him years ago, and he’d been one of the people she had come to rely on. Now, he was admiring her ass. “It’s quite lovely, isn’t it?” Cal ran his hand across her cheeks. His finger slid lightly down the seam of her ass. “She’s very fair.” There was a slight hesitation in the Dom’s voice. “Gabrielle.” Cal’s voice was commanding. “Your employee is worried about your welfare. He doesn’t know who I am beyond the fact that I own a piece of this club. Will you please explain to him what you call me when we’re alone?” There was only one answer to that. She might not call him that anymore, but she would tonight. “Master.” “I always knew she was a sub. Careful with that one.” James laughed, the sound very friendly to her ears. “She will top from the

 

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bottom. Really, though, it’s the only way to go. You want a sub who knows what she wants. What’s life without a little power struggle?” “Boring,” Cal said, surprising her. She sighed as Cal slid his hand across her backside. “Tell me something, Master James. What do think of my pretty little sub?” “I think I’d like to fuck her very much. She’s lovely, Master Callum.” Gaby watched as a slow smile spread across Callum’s handsome face. He’d always liked to show her off. “Yes, she is. She’s gorgeous, and she’s mine. How long do I have before we have a large audience?” “Not long.” James looked at his watch. “Dinner should be over soon. Some of the swingers will come down here. More once they realize a hot D/s scene is being played out.” “Then I should get on with it.” He selected a quarter inch-round cane from the wall of canes, floggers, paddles, and whips. He tested it against his palm then immediately brought it against her naked ass. Gaby started at the pain. It felt like fire licked across her skin. She gasped, but managed not to yell. The pain bloomed into her flesh, causing tears to form. She looked at Cal in the mirror. He stood over her, cane in hand, and despite the pain, despite the heartbreak, she couldn’t help but admit to herself that she loved him. “You do not air our private differences in public, little slave.” The cane came down on the opposite cheek. Gaby bit her lip to keep from crying out. A warmth was building deep inside her, spreading outward from the burning sensation. “You should have stayed, Gabrielle. You had no right to leave me.” His voice was filled with anger. Gaby could see his face was flushed as he struck her again, this time on her thighs. As always, the pain bloomed outward and then flowered into pleasure. “I would have stood by you. I would have taken care of you. Damn it, Gaby, it was my right.”

 

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Cal moved behind her. He kicked at her feet, spreading her legs, and his hand moved between them. He slid his fingers all around her pussy. “That’s what I want. I want this little pussy wet and begging for me.” It took everything Gaby had not to groan. It felt so good. His fingers slid through her juicy cunt, lighting up her every nerve ending. He teased her clit, running his finger just across it only to pull back and plunge into her pussy. The sound of her cunt sucking at his fingers filled the room. Gaby whimpered. She didn’t want his fingers. She wanted his cock. She wanted him to shove that big cock of his deep inside and ride her until she couldn’t think anymore. His hand left her, and it was a mere second before it came down again on her ass. Tears blurred Gaby’s vision. She was so sore. She needed so much. “That was for ruining a perfectly good glass of Scotch.” She heard murmurs from the small crowd now gathering around. Gaby could see them in the mirror. They were shaking their heads in general agreement that she deserved to be punished for spilling a truly good single malt. At least ten people were standing around now, some men and some women. Gaby had been with Cal long enough to know that they wouldn’t bother Cal as long as they followed the rules of the dungeon. As long as they stayed quiet and didn’t interrupt him, he’d fuck her in front of a thousand people. It wouldn’t bother Gaby, either, as long as her shirt stayed on. What was bothering Gaby was an overwhelming need to come. Cal took a step back. In the mirror, Gaby watched as he admired the marks he’d placed on her ass. He ran his hand across them, tracing the pink lines he found there. They would be gone by morning, she knew. Cal was always, always careful with her. He’d never raised a welt. He knew exactly how much pressure to exert to make the pain erotic. He leaned over, his blue eyes hot as he kissed each cheek. He turned back to the row of toys and unwrapped a medium sized anal plug.

 

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Gaby whimpered. It had been so long since he’d filled her ass. It would burn and hurt all over again, just as it had when she was a virgin there. Her torture wasn’t over. He poured lube over the plug, greasing it. When he parted the cheeks of her ass, Gaby shivered. “Push out when I tell you to, pet. Do not disobey me or this plug will be all you get.” Gaby felt him fit the head of the plug against her anus. Cal swatted her sore ass. “Don’t tense.” Gaby forced herself to relax. Cal pushed the plug, forcing her anus to open to take it. “Press back, pet. That’s it. Such a pretty little asshole.” Gaby took a deep breath and tried to flatten the small of her back, pressing out against the plug. She shivered at the sensation as the plug slid home. When Cal slapped her ass this time, every nerve clenched around the plug, a jangled cacophony of pain and pleasure. He walked around and ran a hand through her hair. “Do not try my patience again, pet. Next time, I will not go so easy. Next time, I’ll have you on a St. Andrew’s Cross counting out twenty lashes of a single tail. I’ll pull you down and fuck your mouth, and you will not be allowed to come all night. Is that understood?” Gaby nodded. She was hoping he wouldn’t put the “no coming” punishment on her this evening. Cal’s hands went to his belt, and he shoved his slacks and boxers off. Normally, Gaby knew, he would neatly fold them, but tonight, he kicked them aside, a sure sign that he was losing his control. He held his big dick in one hand and her head in the other. His fingers tangled in her hair. He pulled slightly, just a little sting. The sawhorse was perfectly adjusted to place her mouth right where he wanted it. “Get me hard, pet. Your Master wants to fuck his slave.” She almost laughed. He was so hard he could pound nails. Gaby doubted the enormous cock in front of her could get any harder. She didn’t question him. She simply opened her mouth and let him push

 

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his way in. He didn’t require anything active from her when he was in this state. He merely wanted her compliance, and she gave it to him. He gently thrust himself in and out of her willing mouth. His cock thrust forward as his hands pulled her head in. “That’s my good slave. Open wide for your Master. Your Master is going to fuck your mouth, then he’s going to take that hot ass of yours and give you a reaming you won’t forget.” She let his deep voice wash over her as he promised all manner of nasty things. The dirty talk had always been a part of their play, and hearing Cal whisper what he intended to do to her got Gaby even hotter. Gaby closed her eyes and reveled in the feel of him. Her whole body was primed for sensation. She loved the salty taste of the precum his cock was dripping into her mouth. She loved the silky steel feel of his thrusting dick as he worked his way in inch by inch until his balls hit her chin. He smelled like arousal and soap from a shower. He was Callum, her lover, her Master, and everything about him made her think of home. Cal pulled out of her mouth. He was shaking a little, and he wiped a tear she hadn’t known she’d shed. He got down on one knee and kissed her forehead. “I missed you.” Gaby nodded. She’d missed him so much. She had no idea where they went from here, if they went anywhere at all. She only knew that, for these moments, she was his again. Cal got back up, tossed off his shirt, and he was magnificently naked. Gaby watched as he walked around to her naked backside. The crowd was bigger than before. Gaby could see them through the mirror. They stood and watched silently. Gaby could plainly see the scene was having an effect on some of the men. “Eyes on me and only me,” Cal growled, smacking her ass. Gaby obediently looked straight on in the mirror, watching Callum. His cock jutted up, almost reaching his navel. The gorgeous purple head was filled with blood, and a drop of pearly cum wept from his slit. He reached over to the table where the toys were kept.

 

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Gaby sighed as he wrapped an elastic strap around her hips and through her thighs. He carefully placed the little butterfly directly over her clit. It hummed when he turned it on, and the vibrator started her on a slow build toward climax. “If you come before I allow it, I’ll get out the single tail, Gabrielle.” Gaby bit her lip. It would be hard. The little vibrator was doing all sorts of things to her clit. While Gaby let the sensation wash over her, Cal was busy. It wasn’t more than a few seconds before he spread the cheeks of her ass and pulled out the plug. Gaby moaned as her rectum fought to keep that little piece of plastic. Cal set the plug to the side and started to work warm lube into her anus. Gaby gasped as he forced a finger in. He rimmed her, eliciting a little groan as all of those nerves so long forgotten came roaring back to life. Gaby forgot about the people watching. She forgot about the trouble with Cal. She forgot about the last ten months. All that mattered was him and the pleasure he gave her. “Push back, pet.” Cal sounded guttural. Something far bigger than his finger was seeking entrance. His cock was larger than the plug, and Gaby hissed at the pressure. The butterfly went up a notch. Gaby had to concentrate on pushing back against Cal’s cock. She went on her tiptoes and angled her hips up. It burned as he began to thrust in, stretching her to take him. Gaby was caught between the heat filling her ass and the wild pleasure spreading across her clitoris. “Oh, you feel so fucking good, Gaby.” Cal tunneled his way in ruthlessly. He pushed past the ring of her anus and seated his cock in her tight ass. For a moment, Gaby wondered if he was going to split her in two, he was so fucking big. Gaby could feel his balls caress the cheeks of her ass. He pulled almost all the way out and greedily shoved back in. Every nerve in her backside sang as his cock dragged along them. In and out. In and out.

 

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Cal fucked her with a steady rhythm. His hands tightened on her waist, holding her steady for the thorough reaming he’d promised. Gaby had to bite her lip to keep from coming. It was all building. The riotous sensation in her ass combined with the sweet hum on her clit was proving too much for her. Cal picked up the pace, his cock thrusting hard now. “I’m not going to last. It’s been too long. You need to come for me. Come for your Master.” The butterfly hit the perfect spot. Cal’s cock rubbed just the right place, and Gaby sobbed as she came. She forced her eyes open. She didn’t want to miss Cal. She loved the way his dark head fell back when he gave over. His entire body stiffened as the orgasm hit. He breathed out, and his gorgeous face contorted with the sweetest agony imaginable. His hands tightened on her hips. He thrust into her one last time as she felt the hot wash of his cum flood her ass. A great sense of peace washed over Gaby when Cal let his body fall forward across hers. She felt his lips on the back of her neck, worshipping the soft skin there. His cock came out of her ass, and he flicked off the butterfly. Gaby knew it wouldn’t take long before Cal was ready to go again. He would want to fuck her over and over again. Cal’s hands slid up her torso and under her shirt. “I want you naked, Gaby. I want to play with those pretty nipples.” “Red.” Gaby’s whole world seemed to stop. It all crashed down as she said the one word she’d never uttered to him before. “Red.” Callum seemed stunned, but immediately got off her, stepping back almost as if she was on fire. “Gaby?” There was a wealth of hurt in the question. “I said red.” She forced the words out of her mouth. Tears stung her eyes. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t let him see her. He’d always loved her breasts. He’d taken such pride in showing her off. How could she ever show him what had happened? She wanted to run, but

 

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the bindings were tight. Now she realized everyone was watching this, too. The crowd had grown. Everyone could see her. His hand touched her back. “Gaby, please.” “I’m sorry.” James stepped up. “She said her safe word.” In the mirror, Gaby could see through her tears that Cal was pale. His hands shook as he managed to get his slacks back on. “Take care of her.” Cal’s voice was low and tense. “She won’t let me.” James pulled the bindings off her wrists. He had a robe in his hand and wrapped it around her. Gaby sat down in the middle of the dungeon, put her head in her hands, and cried.

 

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Chapter Five Cal let his head rest against the cool glass of the windowpane. He stared out at the sapphire blue of the sea, but he didn’t really see it. Though it was seven in the morning, he reached out and brought a glass to his lips, the Scotch burning its way down his throat. He shook his head. It didn’t matter how much he drank. It wouldn’t erase the memory of Gaby pushing him away. He was tired, so tired. He was tired of longing for Gaby. He was tired of hiding behind Cassie’s memory. He was tired of everything. Cal put down the Scotch. It wouldn’t really help, anyway. He’d done so much damage that Gaby no longer trusted him. He had no illusions as to why she’d used her safe word. She truly believed he would push her away when he saw the scars on her body. She couldn’t think very much of him if she believed him to be so shallow. He couldn’t blame her. He’d never opened himself to her. He’d taken all her softness and offered very little in return. Cal slapped at the window. She deserved better. She deserved a man who could give her everything, a man who knew how to love, a man who hadn’t fucked up everything. Cal wondered how many lives he would ruin before he was done. He closed his eyes, and he could see Cassie, so young, in the emergency room before they wheeled her into the OR. He’d only just managed to make it there. She was dazed with pain and drugs. She wouldn’t have died if he’d done his job. His failures weighed so heavily on him. He hadn’t been there, but he could hear Gaby crying for him when she came out of her surgery. He’d cared for two women in his life, and he’d so deeply failed them

 

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both that he knew he would never try again. He would give Gabrielle what he could and get out of her life. But he owed her an explanation. Cal pushed away from the window and crossed to the closet. He tossed his suitcase on the bed and picked up the phone. It wasn’t more than a second before an efficient desk clerk answered. He listened to her greeting and got to his point. “Yes. I’m in the Angelina Suite. I’m leaving today. I need a boat to pick me up. Thank you.” Cal packed, trying not to think about the fact that this would be the last time he saw Gaby. The years spread out before him, and he knew how they would go. He would be alone. He deserved it. He would listen every time Heather and Greg spoke, hoping to hear any little mention of her. Gaby would move on eventually. She would find someone who could love her with a free heart. She would be the sunshine in her husband’s life. She would give him children and have a happy life. She would have everything she deserved, and if that man ever stepped out of line, Cal would kill him. When his bags were packed and he’d made sure there would be no trace of him left, Cal made another call, this one to a lawyer. When he was sure he’d done everything he needed to, Cal showered, dressed, and went to find Gabrielle. She was in her office, as he thought she would be. “Could you please tell Ms. Sullivan I would like to speak with her?” Cal was excruciatingly polite to Gaby’s administrative assistant. She put in the call. After a moment, she nodded. “You can go in.” “Thank you. And, Jackie, you’ll be getting several faxes from a law firm in Freeport. Please make sure they’re copied and properly filed.” Callum took a deep breath and walked into Gabrielle’s office. She was sitting at her desk, but looked up when the door opened. She looked fragile in the morning light. A sense of guilt settled in Cal’s heart. He’d brought that pale, tired look to her face. She’d been getting better, according to Chris. Now she was sad again, because of him.

 

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“Cal,” Gaby started. Cal stopped her. “Don’t, sweetheart. I just came by to say goodbye.” She huffed, and a flush raced across her skin. “All right. Goodbye, Cal.” She looked back down at her laptop, dismissing him. The Dom in him wanted to snarl at her and force her to look at him. He pushed the impulse down. He wasn’t going to leave until she understood. She needed to know that what went wrong between them was a flaw in him, not her. Cal sat down in the chair across from the desk. “I married Cassie when we were very young, I explained that to you, but I can’t express her youth in mere age. Cassie was a child, really.” “You were eighteen, too, Cal.” She seemed almost angry that she’d said it. Her pretty mouth was a stubborn line. “Yes, now, I can see what a child I was. At the time, I wanted Cassandra because she was lovely, and she needed me. She needed me so much. I grew up very wealthy, Gaby. My parents barely remembered they had a child. They spent all their time at parties and mingling with the right people. The only time I was paraded out was to show their friends how perfect I was. Cassie was the first person to need me. I felt like a man when she looked to me for strength. Her father was our gardener. We were eight when we met. She became my friend, and looking back now, I became her everything. It was quite easy to go from friendship to something more as we grew older. I got her pregnant the month we finished high school.” Gaby gasped. “I never knew.” He sent her a small smile. “Of course, I never told you.” He didn’t miss the way her hands clenched together. She had guessed how the story went. “How did the child die?” “He was stillborn.” Cal’s throat felt too tight as he pushed the words out. “She was in her eighth month when the doctor couldn’t find a heartbeat anymore. It broke something in Cassie. She’d always

 

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preferred to have me make the decisions, but after we lost our son, she completely withdrew from the world.” “Heather told me she seemed a bit like a ghost.” It was an apt analogy. When he thought of Cassie now, she seemed ethereal and insubstantial compared to Gaby’s solidness. “I suppose she was. We fell into a pattern after that. I went to school, went to work, and she stayed home. She would keep the house fairly clean, but only if I instructed her to. She would get up and get dressed, but only if I laid her clothes out and told her to.” “She was depressed.” “I realize that now. Then, I was very young and on my own for the first time. It took everything I had to keep my head above water. I came into my trust fund at twenty-one, and that helped enormously. While I was in law school, I was able to move us to a better part of town and hire a maid. Greg was an old friend. We reconnected in law school, and he introduced Cassie and me to the scene. Strangely, the club was one of the only places where Cassie came to life. Our sex life improved significantly when we discovered D/s. Cassie seemed more comfortable and, after a while, started calling me Master. She never called me anything else when we weren’t in the vanilla world.” Gabrielle was very quiet for a moment, as though she needed time to properly digest the history he spilled out for her. “Why didn’t you have kids, Cal?” He laughed, but there was no humor behind it. “Oh, we tried. Cassie was obsessed with it. She couldn’t get pregnant after that first time. The doctor said it was a miracle she’d gotten pregnant at all. I offered to adopt, but she didn’t want to. After a while, I was happy we didn’t. I would have had to hire a nanny. Cassie retreated. She rarely did anything on her own. I had to tell her what and when to eat. When I tried to take her to a psychologist, she’d cry and tell me I didn’t love her.” Gaby’s hazel eyes bored through him. “Cal, that is no way to live.”

 

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“I know, but I lived that way for years. I promised to love her. I promised to take care of her. On the night she died, I told her I wanted a divorce.” Gaby’s eyes watered, and she reached out to him. “Oh, Callum, you are not responsible for her death. You can’t possibly think that.” She was far too forgiving, his Gaby. He shook his head. “She hadn’t driven in years. She got into the car, and an hour later, I got the call from the hospital. I rushed there, and she was dying. She begged me, Gaby. She begged me not to leave her. She made me promise I wouldn’t love anyone but her. I told her I wouldn’t. When she died, I promised myself I wouldn’t get involved with another slave. I wouldn’t have another woman dependent on me, and what did I do? I immediately found you.” “Not exactly immediately. It was a year later.” Her voice was soft now, soothing. “You need to be in control. It’s part of who you are. But, Cal, she had no right to ask that of you. If she loved you at all, she would want you to be happy.” He sighed. He should have known Gaby’s tender heart wouldn’t understand. “Have you listened to anything I’ve said? I helped her become dependent on me and then couldn’t stand the fact that she was. I didn’t even truly want the divorce. I was using it as a way to force her to see a counselor. I couldn’t give her what she needed. I tried, but I didn’t. I didn’t give you what you needed, either, Gabrielle.” She started to protest, but he held a hand up. “I allowed myself to take you for granted. You were right. I wanted a convenient body in my bed and a woman who didn’t depend on me for everything. Damn it, Gaby, in a lot of ways, I treated you the opposite of Cassandra. I would never have left her alone the way I did you. I would never have given her work from my office. I would never, ever have broken a date with her for work.” “You didn’t want to be in a relationship like that again. But, Cal, our relationship didn’t work like that. I remember the day after I

 

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moved in. You laid out clothes for me.” Even years later, there was accusation in her voice, though it was softened with a fond smile. Cal felt a wide grin spread across his face. “I remember that you told me if I liked the clothes so much, I could wear them.” “I got a spanking, but you didn’t lay them out again.” Looking back now, he could see that it had been everything he could have wanted. If he’d just been brave enough to really reach out to Gaby, maybe things would have been different. He wouldn’t have lost her trust. “Gaby, I think you’re beautiful. I’ll always think you’re beautiful. Trust me. Show me.” Her hands crossed her chest, and she shook her head. “I can’t.” He took a deep breath. He hadn’t meant to make the plea. He had meant to say goodbye. Now, it looked like it was time to do just that. “All right. I’m leaving on the noon boat. I won’t bother you again, Gaby. If you ever need anything, you know where I am.” His hand was on the door when her soft voice called to him. “Thank you, Cal, for explaining why you couldn’t love me.” He felt his breath hitch. “Gaby, I loved you the minute I saw you. It was just one more vow I broke.” He heard Gaby start to cry as he closed the door. He hoped it was the very last time she had to cry over him. He nodded briefly to the admin and made his way out of the office. “Is that it, then?” Chris Linwood stood just outside the door. It was the last thing Cal needed. He wanted to be alone. He wanted to mourn her. “I have a boat to make, if you don’t mind.” Linwood sighed and fell into step. “You’re leaving?” “You don’t understand, and it really isn’t any of your business.” Chris laughed, a sharp sound. “Let’s see if I’ve got it. You took Gaby to the dungeon, spanked her ass, fucked her ass, and then she used her safe word. You think she doesn’t trust you. She thinks you don’t love her. You’re both dumbasses. Now, you’re going to leave

 

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and hope she has a happy life, and she’s going to let you because she’s scared you won’t ever love her.” Cal stopped in the middle of the hall. He leaned over the smaller man and growled slightly. “You don’t know anything. I told her I loved her.” Chris took a step forward, not giving in an inch to Cal’s threat. “And she should believe you, why?” “I have never lied to Gabrielle. I might have lied to myself, but never to her. It wasn’t until she left that I truly understood just how much I love her and how long I’ve loved her. It’s just too late.” “Those are all fine words, Callum, but have you backed them up?” Cal wanted to punch the kid. “What do you want me to do? Should I go in there and force a ring on her finger? I made her play a role for years. I won’t force her into anything else. Gaby needs to be in control now.” Linwood brightened. “See, you can learn.” “What are you talking about, now?” “There’s only one way to win this fight, Callum. I know Gaby still loves you, but she’s afraid. She’s afraid you’ll reject her. You have to show her you’re willing to change. The Dom in you is going to have to surrender.” “What do you mean?” Cal’s brain was working, the idea tickling at the edges of his consciousness. “You required her submission. She gave it to you. It was the way she proved she loved and trusted you. Do you love her, Cal? Do you trust her?” Cal stopped. Could it work? Could he actually do that? Hell, yes, he could. If it would give Gabrielle a minute’s peace, he could do anything. “How good are you with knots, Linwood?” “As it happens, I’m quite good.”

 

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Chapter Six Gaby looked at the computer in front of her, but all she could see was Cal’s face. He’d looked so sincere when he’d turned and told her he’d always loved her. He’d looked like a man who’d just figured it out and knew it had come too late. And it was too late. Wasn’t it? She couldn’t go back to the way things were. Cal couldn’t change. Except that he’d left his work behind to pursue her. He’d explained his past with Cassie and told her he loved her. All things he’d sworn he wouldn’t do. How could he possibly blame himself for Cassie’s death? He’d been a child when they married. Their marriage was marked with tragedy. Cassie had retreated, and Cal had taken control. Gaby had no doubt that if Cassie hadn’t gotten into a car that night, she would have sought help before letting Cal leave her. Cassie’s dying wish had been one of a desperate woman. He couldn’t be held to it. “Gaby?” Gaby looked up to see her admin nervously poking her head in the door. “I didn’t want to disturb you, but we got these faxes in, and I thought you should see them.” Gaby waved her off. She couldn’t think about work right now. “Call Chris. Have him take a look. I think I’m going to take the rest of the day off.” She would go to the beach and sit. She would think. Jackie vigorously shook her head. “No. It’s about you. That man who was in here, he signed over his part of the resort to you. You now own twenty-five percent of this place.”

 

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Gaby sat back, shocked that he would do this. Tears pooled in her eyes. What was she doing? Was she really going to let him walk out because she was afraid? And what exactly was she afraid of? That Cal would take one look at her and reject her because she had some scars? Jackie placed the papers on Gaby’s desk and then seemed to understand she needed to be alone. The door closed, and Gaby looked down at what Callum had given her. He’d given her what a true Dom should. He’d given her what she needed—control. Cal thought she needed this place and to be in control of her future. She’d told him as much. But what she hadn’t said was that she really needed him. Letting her head fall into her hands, Gaby wept. She wept for what she had lost. She wouldn’t breast-feed her children. She wouldn’t feel Cal’s lips tug on her nipples again. She’d lost her mother at the age of forty-two to the same disease that ravaged her body. She cried for that. She cried because she should have been brave enough to tell Callum what she needed. She should have stayed and fought with everything she had. After a long while, Gaby looked up at the clock. She shot out of her chair. It was almost noon. She would miss his boat. Gaby left the papers on her desk and ran out of the office. She ran past the lobby and out toward the dock just in time to see the boat headed for Freeport take off. Ten minutes later, Gaby made her way back into the resort and headed for her room. She’d tried, but they wouldn’t turn the boat back. She’d thought briefly about swimming but figured that only worked in the movies. She would have to suck it up and take the next boat out. She would get on a plane and fly to Fort Worth. She wasn’t going to let him get away from her again. Resolute, Gaby made her way to her suite. She would pack and be ready for the next ferry out. Gaby stopped, and her mouth dropped open at the scene that greeted her when she entered her bedroom with every intention of packing her belongings. There was a naked man bound on her bed. His muscular body was tied to the headboard and footboard. He

 

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looked delicious spread out on her bed, his tanned skin contrasting with the white of her bedding. He was laid out, a feast for her delectation. “Cal? You didn’t leave?” she gasped, almost not believing her eyes. His head came up. For the first time in their relationship, Gaby found Cal was hesitant, nervous even. His gorgeous face with his perfectly square jaw was open to her. His dark eyes took her in, and he licked his lips with a nervous swipe of his tongue. “I know I said I would, but, Gaby, I have to try everything. I want to be with you so much. I couldn’t just leave until I was sure I’d done everything I could to make it all up to you.” He inclined his head to the table by the bed. “There’s a gag over there if you want it. I thought it might be uncomfortable, though, so I had Chris leave it out.” Gaby stared. She found herself quite unable to move. “Chris did this?” “Well, pet, I am very talented when it comes to bondage, but I’m afraid I am not capable of tying myself up.” “And he left you?” A Dom never left a bound sub alone. Anything could happen. A flush crept across Cal’s skin. “He fought me on that. Gaby, I am willing to do many things to win you back. Sitting here naked with your gay nurse reading the latest Us Weekly is not one of them. I need to maintain some dignity.” He was spread eagle across her fluffy white comforter, next to a tray of sex toys. Gaby felt a smile cross her face. If he had any dignity left, she wasn’t sure where it was. “You love me.” All hesitancy left his face. He turned very serious. “I love you, Gaby. I don’t know how good I am at it, though. It might not be worth much.” A slow happiness was building in her veins. Her big, strong Dom was submitting to her. It was more than she would have imagined Cal

 

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could give. This was against his very nature, and yet, he had done this for her. In her dreams, she’d imagined him on one knee telling her how much she meant. But this was Callum. This was more romantic than a thousand roses. “Hush, now, slave. I’ll tell you when you can talk.” His eyes flared, and it looked like he was going to tell her what she could do with her command. Gaby gave him a moment, and his mouth closed. “Very good, slave.” Starting at his toes, she let her fingers trail up the firm muscles of his leg. The skin was smooth, and the dark hair on it felt crisp under her hand. “You’re quite a pretty slave. I wonder what I should do with you. Oh, my, this is a lovely bounty you have here.” She stared down at his cock. It swelled before her eyes. It had gotten hard the minute she touched him, but now, it was reaching the epic proportions she was used to. She cupped his balls, and a pearly drop wept from the tip of his erection. She rolled his balls gently in the palm of her hand. A fine bead of sweat was breaking out on his forehead. Gaby grinned. She knew exactly what he was feeling. He wanted to toss her on the bed, force her legs apart, and shove that big dick as far into her cunt as it would go. He wanted to fuck her so hard she would never forget who her Master was. Unfortunately, this was her show, and she planned to play it up before she ceded control again for good. She looked over at the toys on the table. There was a nice sized vibrator and something else that caught her eye, a plastic plug. She was smiling as she picked up the vibe. Gaby turned it on and sank to the bed next to Cal. He moaned when she used the vibrating cock as a wand, rubbing it over his own weeping cock. Tied up as he was, Cal could do nothing except twist and writhe. “That’s an impressive array of toys, slave.” Gaby let the vibe rub all along his skin. Cal’s head was back. His eyes closed as a low

 

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moan rumbled from his chest. He was drowning in sensation, and Gaby suddenly got why he loved to torture her. He was beautiful like this. Every muscle in his body was tense, his face tight. When he looked back up at her, his eyes were glazed with passion. She was giving this to him. It made her feel powerful, but there was also a sweet warmth to it. “Do you like this, slave?” His head came up. There was a fire in his eyes as he pulled at his restraints. He would never be able to completely submit. He would be a good boy for now, Gaby realized, but there would be hell to pay later. Her pussy wept at the thought of Cal’s revenge. “You’re going to kill me, Gabrielle.” “Gabrielle?” She mimicked Cal’s arrogant Dom tone. A little grin crossed his face. “Mistress.” “Better.” Gaby noted his cock was straining. The vein that ran on the underside of his cock was pulsing. He was getting close, and that just wouldn’t do. Gaby pulled the vibrator away. Her sweet, arrogant slave groaned in frustration. “Not yet, slave.” She picked up another toy. It was a very flexible toy that tapered on one end and on the other end had a bulbous head to keep it locked inside the wearer. Gaby knew it well. “A butt plug, Cal? Seriously? You want to walk around with a plug up your ass?” “No, Gaby…Mistress.” He seemed a little flustered. His hips pumped up as though his cock longed for the touch of the vibe again. “I think it sounds perfectly dreadful, but I’m willing to take it if it pleases you.” Gaby straddled him. She rubbed her core against his straining cock. Even through the fabric of her shorts, she could feel how hard he was. She rubbed her clit along his dick and sighed at the sensation. Gaby leaned forward and shook that little piece of plastic in his face. She came out of her mistress role for a moment. “This is tiny, Cal. This is half the size of what you lovingly shove up my ass on a regular basis.”

 

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His voice came out in breathless pants. “That is exactly the size I started you on, pet. I worked you up to a larger size so you could gradually accommodate this.” He pushed up against her, leaving no doubt as to what he meant. Gaby tossed the plug on the tray. She wasn’t about to use it on him, but there was something he might enjoy. She leaned across him and picked up the lube. She coated her hands and then kneeled between his bound legs. She had read about this, but this was the first time she was in a position to try it. She winked at him as she leaned over and very deliberately licked from the base of his cock to the head. Cal’s breath came out as a long hiss. “Relax, slave.” Gaby leaned forward and took the head of Cal’s cock in her mouth, teasing it lightly with her tongue. While she ran her tongue all along the head of his cock, Gaby very gently parted the muscled cheeks of his ass. She licked the slit of his cock, sucking lightly to draw out the pre-cum. While Cal moaned and strained, Gaby started to work her middle finger into Cal’s tight asshole. “Gaby!” Gaby looked up as Cal squirmed. She remembered all the times they had played master and slave games. She knew exactly what to say to him. “You hold still, slave. This is my plaything to do with as I like. Your cock is mine. Your ass is mine, too. If I want to fuck your ass with my fingers, then I will. Unless you want to use your safe word. Just say ‘red,’ and I’ll stop.” His face turned very stubborn, his sensual lips forming a flat line. He stopped moving, and his head found the pillow again. He seemed to try to relax. Gaby licked his cock like a lollipop. Her tongue curled around the ridge where the head met the thick stalk of his dick. All the while, she teased her finger into his tight hole. His anus resisted, trying to push her out. She rimmed the rigid hole with her well-lubed finger and pressed in. Cal groaned when she finally pushed past his

 

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initial resistance and sank in. Gaby sucked at her treat and twisted her finger deep inside his ass. It was time to give her Master the ride of his life. **** Cal strained against the ropes. Chris had been right about his skill with the bondage arts. The restraints were perfectly tied to hold him but keep the circulation flowing. It was too perfect. He wished Linwood had proven a bit looser in his habits. Then he could pull his hands out and do what he wanted. He could take Gabrielle, throw her on her hands and knees, and fuck her like the animal he felt like. He needed her on a primal level. He’d been insane with the need to get inside her since she walked in the door and he’d realized she wasn’t walking back out. Her mouth closed over his cock and sucked him deep. His cock was enveloped in the heat of her. Just as he adjusted to the feel of her sucking around him, she twisted the finger she’d shoved up his ass. It burned, and then she found some spot deep inside of him that made him twist, trying to get her to hit it again. Prostate. Cal found the word he was looking for. It helped keep him from exploding in her mouth. His balls felt like they were about to explode. He couldn’t, wouldn’t come until she’d given him permission. He tried to concentrate on the foreign sensation. He’d been shocked when she’d first done it. He wanted to protest, but a part of him was intrigued, too. He’d only explored a part of his sexuality, he realized. That little finger fucked in and out of his anus. She pressed deep and then dragged slowly back out. He shuddered as nerves he’d never known he had came roaring to life. There was so much more he and Gaby had to explore if he would just open himself to it. Gaby swirled his cock in her mouth as she massaged a second finger deep into his ass. Cal nearly cried out. His whole body was

 

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ready to detonate, but he knew the game. Gaby was going to torture him, and he was going to take it. She wasn’t going to make it easy on him. She dragged her fingers over the nub of his prostate, and Cal thought he was going to scream. Between the softness of her mouth and the biting edge of her finger, he was losing the battle to not come. Cal watched her head move up and down on his cock. Over and over again, she sucked him down. His cock was so hard it was a deep purple as it sank into Gaby’s little mouth. She opened as wide as she could when she took him to that soft place in the back of her throat, but she was still small. He could feel the edge of her teeth lightly scraping as he bucked up into her. She paused above him, giving him a wicked smile. “Do you want to come, slave?” “Please, Mistress.” He was past caring what she called him. If he’d been able, he would have pleaded on his hands and knees. He just wanted to release the tension. He wanted to flood her mouth with his cum and watch her drink him down. A brilliant smile crossed her beautiful face. “Then come for me, Callum.” Her mouth sucked him down with sexy greed. He watched his cock disappear, felt her tongue roll. He hissed as she rubbed the nub of his prostate, and he couldn’t hold back. His balls drew up, and he shot off like a rocket. He sighed and writhed as every bit of cum he had flowed from his cock into Gaby’s sweet mouth. She pulled her finger out and concentrated on licking him clean. He wanted so badly to tangle his hands in her hair, to whisper how much she pleased him. Instead, Gaby gave his softening cock one last lick and then moved up his prone body. She loomed over him, a dreamy look on her face. She seemed utterly satisfied, and Cal knew he’d given her something special. “Thank you, slave.” She leaned down and pressed her mouth to his. The kiss was brief and sweet. She reached up and began pulling at his bindings. “Now, I would like my sweet Master back.”

 

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He felt satiated, but far from satisfied. When she’d undone his bindings, he rolled on top of her, crushing her small form beneath his own. He pulled her into his arms, kissing her soundly. Her mouth opened under his. He tangled his tongue with hers, tasting his own salty flavor on her tongue. “I love you, Gabrielle. Can you forgive me?” He looked down into her serious gray-green eyes. She slowly pushed up against him, her hands small on his chest. Cal took his weight off her. He rolled onto his back as she got up off the bed. Her face was solemn, and his heart skipped a beat as her fingers undid the top button of her shirt. He held his breath. He wasn’t worried about what he would see. He knew exactly what Gaby had gone through on a surgical level. He’d studied up on the protocols for dealing with a cancer like hers and knew what had happened. But he knew how hard it was for her to do this and gave it all the weight it deserved. Slowly, she pulled the shirt off. She was wearing a pale pink bra beneath it. He could see her hands shaking as she reached around to undo the clasp. His first instinct was to do it for her, but he held back. His Gaby was very strong. She needed to do this for herself. The bra slipped from her hands, and Cal smiled. “Oh, baby, you’re so beautiful.” He meant it. There were scars. They began just under her armpits and curved around her chest. Though the plastic surgeon had been very skilled, there was no question her chest had suffered a horrible trauma. Livid, raised lines crossed her body, and where her nipples used to be, there was only a flat patch of brownish skin. To Cal, they were lovely. It meant she was alive. They would stand on her body, forever a testament to her will to survive. Cal sat up on the side of the bed. He drew Gaby in between his legs. She was petite, so his head was in the perfect position to play with her breasts. He traced each puckered scar with his fingers, learning the feel of them. He let his hand find her “nipples.” They were really just circles of a rosy brown color. They didn’t react to

 

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touch or tighten when the air got cool. He couldn’t clamp them or pinch them between his thumb and forefinger. Those nipples were just a tattoo, and yet, they seemed like a magnificent work of art. He kissed them tenderly. “Cal, I can’t feel it.” She sounded disappointed and a bit apologetic. “But I can.” She needed to understand he would still find pleasure in her breasts because they were a part of her. She sighed, and her hands found his hair. He kissed along one and then the other breast, pushed them up so he could lay kisses along the scars underneath. He reveled in the warmth of her skin and the smell of her body. He looked up at her, one hand between her breasts. “This has always been my favorite part of you, Gaby. That is never going to change.” She smiled at him with watery eyes. “Thank you, but it’s okay. I know how different they are.” He kissed the flesh in the middle of her chest. “I was talking about your heart, Gabrielle.” His arms wound around her and pulled her down into his embrace. He flipped her underneath his body and made a place for himself at her core. His cock was already hard again. He would never get used to how much he wanted her. He kissed her like he’d wanted to for almost a year. His tongue mated with hers wildly, showing her what he wanted to do. He fought to pull her shorts down and rid her of the panties he fully intended to burn once their relationship was on a proper footing. He tossed them off the bed. There was no chance that she would need clothes again this day. He came up for air. There was one thing they needed to get straight. “This does mean you’ll marry me, right?” There was a distinctly sly smile on her face. “I don’t recall being asked. I recall a very arrogant man telling me I would marry him and

 

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follow him back to Fort Worth. The only trouble with that is now I seem to have come into a little property.” He groaned. He’d made a monster. “We’ll stay here as long as you like, but, Gaby, I’ll need to set up an office. Greg is my biggest client. I can do most of his work from here.” She looked very surprised. “Cal, I was joking. I’ll come back.” “I think you need to be here for a while. It’s peaceful. Do you love it here?” He smoothed back her hair, and the glow in her face answered his question. She nodded. “But not more than I love you.” “Then, Gabrielle Sullivan, will you marry me?” He grinned down at her. Finally, she was where she belonged, beneath him, grounding him. “You know I don’t like to hear no from my pretty little slave.” Gaby moved restlessly against him. He could feel how wet she was. He slid his cock all over her pussy, gliding easily around the juicy flesh. “Yes, Callum.” He pushed her legs apart and slammed home. This was what he missed. He shoved his cock in until his balls slapped at her ass and held himself there. Her cunt clenched around him, a tight vise on his flesh. Gaby’s hands dug into the flesh of his ass. He slipped his hand in between them and toyed with her clit. “Do you want to come, my little slave?” “Oh, yes, Cal.” He pinched down firmly, making her writhe around him. “What do you call me?” “Master. Yes, Master.” He started thrusting into his gorgeous slave. He reared back and slammed home. He reveled in their connection. “Master in the bedroom, Gabrielle. Husband everywhere else. Partners always.” Gaby’s face flushed. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, and her ankles locked at his waist. He stroked her clit again, and she came. Cal felt every little muscle in her cunt start to milk his cock. It was too delicious to deny. He thrust in one last time and gave in.

 

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Gaby gasped and whimpered as he came inside her. When he was completely drained, he fell on her, withholding none of his weight. “Cal.” Gaby sounded a little panicked. “Oh, Cal, I’m not on anything. I’m not on any birth control.” He hugged her tightly to him. Now, it was his turn to be brave. “I know. Gaby, I want to have a family with you. Just understand when I’m unsettled.” Her smile was brilliant. “I’ll be with you. I’ll be with you all the way.” He rolled her on the bed. She wouldn’t leave again. If she did, he would be right there, running after her. “Of that I have no doubt.” Cal kissed his bride-to-be and started the process all over again.

THE END http://www.sophieoak.com

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prior to becoming a novelist, Sophie worked in theater and comic books. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas with her husband and three precocious children, who wonder when mom is going to write a book they will be allowed to read. Her answer: probably never. Sophie believes in happy endings for everyone, no matter how extreme the story. Her stories may feature some of the fringe elements of sexuality, but at heart they are always about love. Small Town Siren, Siren in the City, Three to Ride (Nights in Bliss, Colorado 1) and Away From Me are available now. Sophie loves to hear from readers. Please feel free to contact her at www.sophieoak.com.

Also by Sophie Oak Texas Sirens 1: Small Town Siren Texas Sirens 2: Siren in the City Nights in Bliss, Colorado 1: Three to Ride

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

 

 

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com